About the project
UK Plate Check
UK Plate Check brings together official UK vehicle data in one place so a buyer or owner can check a car before paying for it. It is built with semantic HTML, mobile-first CSS, plain JavaScript and a small Node.js server.
How it works
A registration number is validated in the browser and sent to this application's server. The server calls the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service so that the API key is not exposed in client-side JavaScript. The response is then presented as readable status and detail cards.
The server also adds a road tax estimate and a London ULEZ compliance estimate worked out from the DVLA record, looks up possible DVSA safety recalls for the make, model and build date shown in the MOT history, and can check the company selling the vehicle on Companies House. Running costs use the official Vehicle Certification Agency fuel figures, and a postcode search shows nearby clean air zones and, for electric cars, public chargers from Open Charge Map.
Accessibility
The interface uses semantic landmarks, explicit form labels, visible keyboard focus, a skip link, live status messages and responsive layouts. Colour is not the only method used to communicate tax or MOT status.