GOV.UK MOT checker error message

[timedwards]

Can anybody explain why on a few cars now I have got the error message 'Check that the registration you entered is correct' on the Government MOT check website. It has happened to a few cars that are from car traders rather than private sales. The companies look reputable and the cars not cheap! How can I check the MOT history on these cars presuming they are legit?

two examples are:

https://www.taskerandlacy.co.uk/used-ca ... 2053419738

and

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-XJ40- ... 1438.l2649


Thanks Tim

[RichardSEL]

Went thru about 50 ads before I narrowed the Sept '16 search for my first XJ8 to five.
And for the July '17 second (the infamous eBay bargain) did the full on line checker (£20+) too as suspected it to be too cheap

During both buys also found several that didn't show up -- but all of them didn't show up on DVLA's "Check if a Vehicle is Taxed" site as well as the MOT's. Usually the VRM's on a plate that doesn't have the plate maker's name or email address on it -- a requirment except for Show plates. But the ones you caption do have those marks on the plates too.

As you and I are both getting the same results, suggests that seller might be getting the same results too?
Or they're imports too recent to show on the database yet -- like from other RHD countries -- saw a Range Rover
like that from Japan: NOVA all done, VRM issued but database not yet updated.

DVLA's database was falling behind in the last few months of my employ before I retired -- and that was in March 2011 Particularly, Officers were doing stops for checks showing "unroadworthy" (22/PG9) Only to find that the fresh MOT had been done to show compliance, but the PG8 hadn't been entered due to "the cuts"

[Tintin]

The reason is that the owner has "adjusted" the VRM to show (presumably) his personalised initials. The VRM in the second ad is xxxxxRKY (Ricky?) but if you change the "Y" to a "V" and retry the site you get the correct vehicle. I had this happen to me twice before with cars at auction.

Robbie

[Tintin]

Sorry - I meant the first (Tasker and Lacey) ad.

R

[timedwards]

Thank you both for the helpful replies. The x300 has all passes on MOT's with no advisories at all but then has done very few miles! Makes me wonder why change the plate though to seller's initials - all sounds rather strange

Cheers for the help

[doctor_b]

Could be the cars had a private plate on before it was put up for sale and the new normal reg put back on, sometimes there is a few days delay on this showing up on the public database and a few years ago even the PNC as I remember buying private plates and putting them on and getting stopped by the police and they had to take the documents for the transfer as proof as it wasn't showing up on thier system, I think thier one is faster now, but the public system has delays.

[RichardSEL]

Yes, these database update delays must still be happening

The PG9 desk at the Met (TC) was only being part-time manned when I was there.
Despite an advert for the job being circulated. I went for it, but never heard back.

It's not the PNC (Police National Computer) that holds vehicle records.
That's the DVLA's database that's only accessed through "PNC". So different access
rules, exams for competence, and Data Protection Act protocols apply.

The most irksome is no speculative searching. So if someone gives a name claiming
to hold a driving license but that name and date of birth comes back as no trace, you
can't go hunting for that name with a DOB either side of the year given.
Whereas on the PNC where personal records are kept you can to see if known or wanted