Know Your Car — Everything You Should Know About Your Vehicle
Most drivers know their registration number and fuel type — but there is much more you should know about your own vehicle. Here is the complete owner's knowledge guide.
Identity Documents
- Registration number — your vehicle's public identifier
- VIN — 17-character code on the windscreen plate, engine bay, and V5C. Never share this publicly as it can enable cloning fraud.
- V5C reference number — needed for online tax renewal
Legal Compliance Dates
- MOT expiry date — renew within the 30 days before expiry to keep the same renewal date. Driving with an expired MOT (unless driving to a pre-booked test) is an offence.
- Road tax expiry date — renew online at gov.uk/vehicle-tax. Direct debit keeps it continuous.
- Insurance renewal date — shop around on renewal rather than auto-renewing.
Mechanical Essentials
- Engine oil grade and capacity — in the handbook; use the correct grade for your engine
- Coolant type — some modern cars require specific coolant colours/types; mixing types can cause corrosion
- Tyre size and pressures — usually on the door sill sticker; pressures differ for laden and unladen
- Service interval — when the next service is due (mileage or date, whichever comes first)
- Cambelt/chain interval — if your engine has a timing belt (not chain), it requires replacement at a fixed interval. Failure to replace it can cause catastrophic engine damage.
Safety Recalls
The DVSA maintains a free recall checker at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk. Enter your registration to see any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls. Outstanding recalls should be completed at no charge by an authorised dealer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know about my own car?
Every car owner should know: the registration number, the VIN (from the windscreen plate and V5C), the MOT expiry date, the road tax expiry date, the service interval (mileage or time), the tyre size and recommended pressures, and the fuel type. Running a check on your own vehicle confirms all of these from official records.
How do I find out what engine my car has?
The V5C logbook lists the engine size in cc and fuel type. The DVLA check also returns this. For the specific engine code (which determines parts compatibility), check the sticker on the engine bay, the service book, or run the VIN through a manufacturer VIN decoder. Many manufacturers offer free online VIN decoders.
How do I find my car's service intervals?
Service intervals are set by the manufacturer and published in the owner's handbook. Common intervals are annual or 12,000 miles (interim) and every 2 years or 24,000 miles (full). Some modern cars have variable service intervals managed by an on-board computer. Check the service warning light and reset procedure in your handbook.
How do I check if my car has any outstanding safety recalls?
In the UK, check the DVSA vehicle recall database at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk using your registration number. This is free and shows any safety recalls affecting your vehicle, whether they have been completed, and the nature of the issue. Manufacturers also notify registered keepers by post.
Check MOT status, tax, and vehicle details instantly
Enter your registration to see all official DVLA and DVSA records for your vehicle.
Check My Car