Spotlight: DVLA and DVSA
DVLA API integration: tax and MOT data in your own system
We connect the DVLA API and DVSA's MOT history service to fleet, hire and business systems, so every vehicle's tax status, MOT due date, emissions and test history arrive automatically instead of being checked by hand. We have built this for multiple customers and in our own fleet product, and we handle the API keys, limits and renewals so you don't have to.
The problem
Checking tax and MOT dates by hand
Most businesses with vehicles keep tax and MOT dates in a spreadsheet and check them on the government website one registration at a time. Dates get missed when someone is off, a vehicle bought mid-year never makes it onto the list, and the first sign of a lapsed MOT is a vehicle that cannot go out on the morning it is needed.
Why connect to the source
DVLA and DVSA hold the official record for every vehicle. Reading it directly means the dates in your system are the dates the government holds, refreshed automatically, and a vehicle is checked the moment it is added rather than whenever someone remembers.
What it changes
No more manual lookups
Tax status, MOT due dates and vehicle details refresh on their own, for every vehicle on the list.
Warnings before the date, not after
Reminders go out ahead of tax and MOT dates, built from the official record rather than a spreadsheet someone forgot to update.
Vehicles added in seconds
Type a registration and the make, colour, fuel, emissions and first registration date fill themselves in.
The full MOT story
DVSA's MOT history adds every past test, its advisories and the recorded mileage, so a recurring fault or an odd mileage stands out.
How it works
What a DVLA API integration includes
Two government services, connected to the system you already use
DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service
The DVLA API returns a vehicle's tax status and due date, MOT status and expiry, make, colour, fuel type, CO2 emissions and date of first registration from its registration number.
DVSA MOT history
DVSA's MOT history service adds every recorded test, pass or fail, with advisories, defects and mileage readings, including HGVs and other vehicles on an annual test.
One reliable MOT date
The two services do not always agree straight after a test, so the integration takes the later date and keeps it current, rather than showing a date that has already been superseded.
Nightly refresh, within the limits
Every vehicle is refreshed overnight at a pace the government services allow, and vehicles with tax or MOT due soon are refreshed again when someone opens them.
Reminders that act on it
Upcoming tax, MOT and other key dates feed reminders to the right people, so the data leads to action rather than sitting in a column.
Keys and renewals looked after
Both services need registered access, and DVSA's credentials expire and are withdrawn if unused. We apply, store the keys securely and keep them alive.
DVLA API: common questions
How do I get a DVLA API key?
You register for the Vehicle Enquiry Service through DVLA's developer portal, giving your business details and an estimate of how many lookups you will make. DVLA reviews the request and issues one key per company, with a rate limit based on that estimate. Approval takes days rather than minutes, and we can help with the application.
What data does the DVLA API return?
From a registration number: tax status and due date, MOT status and expiry, make, colour, fuel type, CO2 emissions, engine size and date of first registration, among others. It does not return the keeper, insurance details or MOT test history.
Does the DVLA API include MOT history?
No. MOT test history, advisories and recorded mileage come from DVSA's separate MOT history service, which needs its own application and credentials that must be renewed every two years. We connect both and combine them into one record per vehicle.
Can it check driving licences?
No. Driving licence checks are a different DVLA service with its own access rules and the driver's consent, and they are not part of the vehicle data described here. Talk to us if you need both.
Can it tell me whether a vehicle is insured?
No. Insurance cover is held on the Motor Insurance Database, not by DVLA. A fleet system can still record each policy and its renewal date and remind you before it lapses.
How much does a DVLA integration cost?
It depends on what the data needs to drive. Adding tax and MOT lookups to an existing system is a small job; a fleet tool with reminders, checks and defect reporting is a larger one, and our ready-made fleet product may cover it. We will scope it with you on a short call and give you a clear quote.
Ready to stop checking tax and MOT dates by hand?
Tell us which systems you need to talk to each other, and we'll tell you honestly what it would take.