Recall Basics

How do I check if my car has a recall?

Q: How do I check if my car has a recall?

You can check for open recalls on your vehicle using your registration number via the DVSA's official recall checker, your manufacturer's website, or a free service like CarRecall which monitors the DVSA database and alerts you automatically when a new recall is issued for your vehicle.

Checking for open recalls on your vehicle takes less than a minute. You'll need your registration number — that's all. Here are the ways to check, including how to get automatic alerts so you never need to remember to check again.

Enter your registration number on CarRecall for an instant check. You can also check via the DVSA's official recall page or your manufacturer's website. For ongoing peace of mind, register your reg with CarRecall and we'll alert you by email the moment a new recall is issued.

Your options for checking

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CarRecall (recommended)Enter your reg on carrecall.app for an instant check. Register your email and we'll monitor the DVSA database on your behalf — you'll get an alert the moment a recall is issued for your vehicle. Free, no account required to check.

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DVSA official recall checkerThe DVSA maintains an official recall register at gov.uk. You can search by registration number or by make and model. This gives you the authoritative result but you'll need to remember to check manually.

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Your manufacturer's websiteMost major manufacturers have their own recall lookup tools — Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW, and others all offer VIN or registration-based checks. These can sometimes show recalls not yet on the DVSA register if the manufacturer has issued an early notice.

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Call your manufacturer directlyIf you can't find what you need online, calling your manufacturer's customer service line with your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) will get you a definitive answer. Your VIN is on the dashboard near the windscreen or inside the driver's door frame.

What information do I need?

For most online checks, your UK registration number is sufficient — the system will look up your vehicle's make, model, and production date automatically. For manufacturer VIN-based checks, your 17-character VIN gives more precise results, particularly useful if you're checking a grey import or a vehicle with a non-standard registration history.

What if my car shows no recall?

A clear result means there are no open recalls on record for your vehicle at this time. It doesn't mean a recall will never be issued — recalls can be announced at any point during a vehicle's life. This is why ongoing monitoring through a service like CarRecall is more useful than a one-off check.

Second-hand car buyers: Always check for open recalls before completing a purchase. The previous owner may have ignored a recall notice, and you could inherit an unresolved safety issue with the vehicle.

How often should I check?

Manually, you'd need to check every few weeks to stay on top of new recalls. Realistically, most people don't — which is why CarRecall exists. Register your registration number once and we handle the monitoring for you, alerting you by email if anything changes.

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