Number Plate Lookup South Africa: How to Check Vehicle Specifications Online

What is a Number Plate Lookup?

A number plate lookup (also called registration number lookup or licence plate search) is a service that retrieves vehicle specifications using a vehicle's registration number. This is a valuable tool for businesses and individuals who need to verify vehicle details quickly and accurately.

What Information Can You Get from a Number Plate Lookup?

When you perform a number plate lookup, you can retrieve vehicle technical specifications only, including:

• Make and Model: The vehicle manufacturer and model name
• Year of Manufacture: When the vehicle was produced
• Engine Specifications: Engine size, type, and number
• Vehicle Colour: The registered colour of the vehicle
• VIN Number: Vehicle Identification Number for cross-reference
• MM Code: Manufacturer's model code
• Technical Details: Additional specifications like fuel type, transmission, and body type

Important: What is NOT Included

It's important to understand that number plate lookup services provide vehicle specifications only. The following information is NOT available through this service:

• Owner or driver personal details
• Ownership history
• Address information
• Finance or loan status
• Accident history
• Stolen status

How Does Number Plate Lookup Work?

Number plate lookup services access commercially available third-party vehicle databases. When you enter a registration number, the service queries these databases to retrieve the associated vehicle specifications.

Third-Party Data Sources

All vehicle specification data is sourced from commercially available third-party datasets. Service providers like VerifyNow act as intermediaries, providing access to this publicly available vehicle specification data.

Common Uses for Number Plate Lookup

1. Vehicle Sales and Dealerships

Car dealers use number plate lookups to verify vehicle details when taking trade-ins or purchasing vehicles for resale. This helps ensure the vehicle matches the seller's description.

2. Insurance Verification

Insurance companies and brokers use vehicle lookups to verify vehicle specifications when processing claims or issuing new policies.

3. Fleet Management

Businesses with vehicle fleets use number plate lookups to maintain accurate records of their vehicles' specifications.

4. Compliance and Due Diligence

Companies in the automotive industry use vehicle lookups as part of their compliance processes to verify vehicle details.

5. Vehicle Inspections

Inspection services use number plate lookups to cross-check vehicle details against physical inspections.

Countries Supported

Number plate lookup services typically cover vehicles registered in multiple countries. VerifyNow's service supports vehicles from South Africa and 57+ other countries worldwide, making it useful for international vehicle verification.

How to Perform a Number Plate Lookup

1. Navigate to the vehicle lookup page
2. Select "Number Plate Lookup" tab
3. Enter the vehicle registration number
4. Select the country where the vehicle is registered
5. Click "Search Vehicle"
6. Review the vehicle specifications returned

Best Practices for Number Plate Lookup

Verify Accuracy

Always cross-reference digital lookup results with physical vehicle inspection where possible.

Legitimate Purpose

Ensure you have a legitimate business purpose for performing vehicle lookups.

Record Keeping

Maintain records of why lookups were performed for compliance purposes.

Limitations and Disclaimers

When using number plate lookup services, it's important to understand their limitations:

• Data Accuracy: Data is sourced from third-party databases and may not always be 100% current
• Specifications Only: Only vehicle technical specifications are provided
• No Warranty: Service providers typically do not warrant the accuracy of third-party data
• Independent Verification: Users should independently verify critical information

Conclusion

Number plate lookup is a valuable tool for quickly retrieving vehicle specifications using registration numbers. Whether you're in vehicle sales, insurance, fleet management, or compliance, this service provides essential vehicle details to support your business operations.

Remember that these services provide vehicle specifications only and should be used alongside physical inspection and other verification methods for comprehensive due diligence.

Looking for vehicle lookup services? Try VerifyNow's Number Plate Lookup to search vehicle specifications across South Africa and 57+ countries.