Car Spec Check

Buying a car is a serious business. It is serious because it is a major purchase that you have to be able to rely on. It is serious because it involves a large amount of money.

For all these reasons, you have to be absolutely sure that the car you’re buying meets the specifications or spec you need.

Luckily, getting a full spec on a car make or model is now much easier than it used to be. The standardisation of building and performance means that you can be confident that all cars with the same spec are the same when they are bought as new.

And you can use our internet car spec search tool to get a very detailed on the spec of the car that you’re interested in.

Why should you find out the spec of a car?

There are different reasons you should find out the spec of a car.

If you are looking to buy a new car, then you’ll need the spec to see if it has the features you need. Basically, you will need the spec to try and work out if the car is the right one for you. This is especially important if you’re buying a car online.

This can also be the case if you are looking to buy a used car. Getting the right spec information can help you make the right choice.

Or you could be looking to find out the spec of a vehicle you already own.

What sort of information is covered in our car spec checker?

We have tried to develop a comprehensive tool that will give you all the information you need to know about a car. The type of things our report covers includes size, weight, fuel efficiency, environmental considerations, brake horsepower, speed and road tax cost.

Why does size matter in the spec of a car?

The car spec will come with detailed information about the size of the car you’re interested in. This will help you work out not only how easy it might be to park it, but how it will fit in your garage or on your drive. We also cover the internal size of the car, including important things like the size of the boot (measured in litres to allow a standard comparison between car boots).

Why is weight included in a car spec?

Our car spec data will also include the weight of a vehicle. This could be important if your planned journeys include things like small bridges.

Do you show the fuel efficiency of a car?

We will show the miles per gallon (mpg) figure for your vehicle so that you can see how far it will travel with fuel. Our report will also cover the size of the fuel tank of the car, and a prediction of how many miles you’re likely to be able to drive using a full tank.

What about environmental considerations?

Our car spec will include details of a car’s fuel consumption and level of CO2 emissions. This will be important to you if you are environmentally conscious. It will also be relevant to you in terms of the road tax you will have to pay.

What is brake horsepower (BHP)?

Our checker will also give you the car’s BHP. This tells you how speedily any car can accelerate from zero miles per hour. Quite simply, the bigger BHP a vehicle can manage, the quicker it will go. Greater BHP also makes things like driving up steep hills easier.

Does our spec cover a car’s top speed?

We will show you how fast your vehicle is able to go.

Why is road tax relevant to a car’s spec?

The amount you are charged in road tax depends on different factors including the date the car was first registered for road use, and its engine size or level of CO2 emissions. All of these things are known as ‘variables’ – each one can be different, and each one can mean you pay a different rate of car tax. We will tell you the amount of road tax you will need to pay so that you can make an informed choice.

How do we give you the car spec you want?

We just need the registration number of the car that you’re interested in.

Simply type in your car registration number below and a full car spec will be created. Your registration number or number plate is also sometimes referred to as your VRM (Vehicle Registration Mark).

With just your car reg we can provide your exact spec. The only requirements are that the registration is a valid, UK-issued number and that the car was first registered after 2001.

What is the spec of my car?

Simply type in your car registration number below and a full car spec will be created. Your registration number or number plate is also sometimes referred to as your VRM (Vehicle Registration Mark).

With just your car reg we can provide your exact spec. The only requirements are that the registration is a valid, UK-issued number and that the car was first registered after 2001.

How reliable is our car spec checker?

Our car spec checker is very reliable. It uses data from a variety of sources to compile a full history. This includes the VCA (Vehicle Certification Agency) to get accurate data on CO2 emissions.

We also look at the records of the Driving Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which crunches past and present MOT tests.

Can you use our tool to find out the spec of a motorbike?

Our tool deals with all vehicles with a number plate, and that includes motorbikes.

Does our car spec tool cover commercial vehicles and vans?

Yes, it does. You can use it to check the specs of vans or commercial vehicles.

What is a VIN code?

Every vehicle has a VIN code which is used as a unique identifier on every vehicle. You can usually find the VIN code either at the bottom of the windshield glass, at the B-column between the driver’s and rear passenger’s doors, and or underneath the car’s bonnet.

How do you find out the optional extras on a new car?

If you are having a brand-new car, you will also be interested in the optional extras that it contains. You can negotiate with a car dealer over the features you’d like to see. Remember to choose only vehicles that have the most desirable optional extras to increase sales.

What is GCC and how do I find it?

A GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) specification vehicle has been built in an Arabian country. Its design will have been influenced by the specific weather and terrain requirements of Gulf states. You will only be able to find out GCC specs if the vehicle has been registered with the DVLA.

What other issues should you think about?

Other things you need to think about when buying a used car are if there is any outstanding credit on it. We have a tool that lets you check this too.

Our online tools can also help you make sure that it has not been written off by using our number plate technology.

We have also built searches that look for things like a car’s MOT history, and any history of number plate changes.