Photograph the PDF417 barcode to read the vehicle details and encoded expiry date. Add a number plate comparison when the workflow needs a separate vehicle record check.
Vehicle licence-disc scanner
Turn a licence-disc barcode into a usable vehicle report.
Scan the South African PDF417 barcode and read registration, VIN, make, model, engine, class and encoded expiry details. Issued MVL results also name the vehicle register number, control number and vehicle description. Image uploads can add mass, test-date and seating evidence.
The report
Registration and VIN
The registration number and VIN decoded from the licence disc barcode.
Make, model and expiry
Vehicle description and disc expiry so your team can confirm the vehicle in front of them.
A record you can keep
Save the scan with the deal, rental or fleet file instead of photographing the disc by hand.
Each report starts with the licence disc barcode. Vehicle data comparisons are added only when selected.
Read the PDF417 barcode and return its encoded vehicle fields. When glare blocks the barcode, a clearly labelled visual read can recover printed fields at lower confidence.
View live pricingAdd a number plate lookup and compare the returned vehicle fields with the barcode.
Current dashboard label: Disc + Comprehensive Vehicle Check. The external API plate report keeps its number plate lookup terminology.
View live pricingAdding licence disc scanning to a vehicle workflow? Read the vehicle licence disc API guide.
The PDF417 barcode gives the scanner an exact machine-readable record of the vehicle fields encoded when the disc was produced. It removes manual typing from the capture step and lets the report check required fields, data format and the encoded expiry date.
Vehicle disc assurance comes from accurate barcode capture and an optional comparison with a separate vehicle record. A plate mismatch gives the reviewer a clear fraud signal for follow-up.
This fictional example shows the barcode fields, structural checks and a number plate comparison. Dashboard reports can be downloaded as authenticated PDFs.
The combined example also includes the complete Comprehensive Vehicle Check sections returned with the disc comparison.
Downloadable sample
Combined licence-disc and Vehicle Check report
South African vehicle licence disc PDF417 report
Date: 2026/08/03
Time: 12:00:00
Vehicle licence disc barcode decoded
Encoded vehicle fields and structural checks
MVL · high confidence
Registration number
Disc: DEMO123GP
Lookup: DEMO123GP
Matches
VIN
Disc: 1HGCM82633A004352
Lookup: 1HGCM82633A004352
Matches
Make
Disc: TOYOTA
Lookup: TOYOTA
Matches
Model
Disc: COROLLA 1.8
Lookup: COROLLA 1.8
Matches
Engine number
Disc: DEMO-ENGINE-001
Lookup: DEMO-ENGINE-001
Matches
Colour
Disc: White
Lookup: White
Matches
This report combines fields decoded from the PDF417 barcode with clearly labelled visible-disc OCR fields. Each field carries its source and confidence. The expiry status uses the date encoded in the barcode.
Separate vehicle-record lookup using the registration number and VIN decoded from the supplied licence disc. The fields below come from the Comprehensive Vehicle Check result.
Select barcode verification or add a number plate comparison.
Upload a photo or use the camera on a phone or desktop.
See the vehicle fields, checks and any selected comparison.
Download the authenticated PDF for your records.
Open the VerifyNow scanner on a phone or desktop, accept the processing terms, then upload or photograph the vehicle licence disc with the full PDF417 barcode visible.
The current scanner reads the registration number, VIN, make, model, vehicle class, colour, engine number and encoded expiry date when those fields are present in the supported barcode format.
A clear disc image can add the printed gross vehicle mass, tare, test date and seated or standing capacity. Each recovered field carries its read source and confidence in the result.
The issued MVL PDF417 payload contains its format version, licence or registration number, vehicle register number, control or disc number, VIN, engine number, make, series or model, colour, vehicle description and expiry date. Legacy formats may also contain a country code or separate vehicle class. The API retains every populated indexed barcode field.
VerifyNow processes the PDF417 barcode through its hosted vehicle-disc workflow and prepares the report. The barcode scan does not send the disc to an external decoder API. A number plate report adds the selected VerifyNow vehicle lookup.
Yes. POST /vehicle-licence-disc accepts a base64 image or decoded PDF417 text. Choose a barcode report or number plate comparison. Image requests can opt into lower-confidence visual field recovery.
Yes. Image requests add available printed GVM, tare, test date and seating values by default. Set include_visual_fields to false to skip that enrichment. allow_visual_fallback separately permits a visual-only result when the PDF417 barcode cannot be read. Decoded barcode_text requests remain barcode-only.
The dashboard option is Disc + Comprehensive Vehicle Check. It includes the disc result, field comparison and complete vehicle-check sections. The external API plate report continues to use number plate lookup terminology.
Each successful report includes an Authenticated PDF action. The PDF carries its transaction reference and a VerifyNow report authentication code.
The report shows the expiry date encoded in the barcode and its status on the report date. Number Plate Verification adds a separate vehicle data comparison.
The barcode supplies an exact machine-readable record of the vehicle fields encoded on the disc, which reduces capture errors and exposes malformed or expired data. Choose Number Plate Verification when the decision needs an independent vehicle record comparison and a stronger fraud signal.
Yes. VerifyNow built and operates the hosted vehicle-disc scanner, validation checks, visible-field recovery and report comparison workflow. Number plate reports use VerifyNow's existing vehicle verification service.
A barcode result returns the supported vehicle fields and encoded expiry date. When glare blocks PDF417 recovery, the scanner can return visible printed fields with a clear medium- or low-confidence label.
Yes. Choose the number plate verification report before scanning to add a field comparison. The current dashboard label is Disc + Comprehensive Vehicle Check. The external API plate report continues to use number plate lookup terminology.
Yes. The dashboard scanner can use a phone camera or a photo uploaded from a desktop.
Choose the report, capture the PDF417 barcode and review the vehicle information in the VerifyNow dashboard.
