...to be suspicious about this car?

MissInterpretation · 2023-08-25T06:38:15+00:00

If you type a reg number into the MOT checker, or anything like an insurance quote website, or even Halfords, it will tell you the car that the reg belongs to. So if you type it in and it doesn't recognise it, what would that mean? It's not that the MOT has expired or anything, the checker tells you if that's the case, and I haven't got the number wrong, I know it well, and have suspicions about the owner. It's just playing on my mind. Anyone know why it wouldn't show up?

Yogibearspicnic · 25/08/2023 07:48

Is it a personalised plate where they've tried to make a letter/number look like something else, so you're reading it wrong?

CarrieMoonbeams · 25/08/2023 07:51

Hmm, I suppose there are a couple of options off the top of my head:

has it recently had a plate change, i.e. gone from a 'normal' registration number to a private one? That can take a short time to show up on the DVLA's website.
has the plate been made up in a certain way, to try to make it fit with a word/name? I used to work with a guy whose plate started B15, and he'd put the numberplate screw in such a way to make it look VERY like B16, because his nickname was "Big ...". It was cleverly done, I only noticed it from close up.

I guess the other options are DVLA error, dealer error when the car was new, or cloned plates.

KajsaKavat · 25/08/2023 07:52

So if you type it into the gov.uk mot checked site it says it has mot? So it is recognised???

I have personal plates and some places don’t recognise my number (although most do)

Original poster

MissInterpretation · 25/08/2023 07:57

It just says 'there is a problem' and tells you to check the number. The back story - yes it is a private plate, and this person has had four different cars in the past couple of years, and previously the reg number has been recognised, no problems at all, but on this car it isn't....

OP posts:

KajsaKavat · 25/08/2023 08:03

Most likely the personal plate has not registered yet, it should be immediate but for one of my cars it took ages to come up on. Those databases.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 25/08/2023 08:17

I had a completely legal and unremarkable car once, which I bought from new, where there was an error in the database. It recognised the plate, but it was associated with a different model and colour of car.

Hecate01 · 25/08/2023 08:21

I was pulled by the police at 2am on a Sunday morning after finishing work and their number plate recognition told them that my car was registered to someone the other end of the country. They were quite shirty with me but when they radioed it in it came back okay and as registered to me so I guess no database is perfect.

More recently I sold my car to WBAC and it just would not accept my car, no private plate, according to them it didn't exist and I had to manually input the details. The lady working there had the same problem when I arrived and said it's more common than people realise but when she phoned up her office they found it.

I've never had any problems with my private plate though, everytime I have had issues it's been with the original plate.

Original poster

MissInterpretation · 25/08/2023 08:29

I know I'm being crazy about this, but she has a dodgy past, has had problems with alcoholism, and I'm worried my friend is potentially getting into trouble again by being involved with her. It's a long story.

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IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 25/08/2023 12:05

I was pulled by the police at 2am on a Sunday morning after finishing work and their number plate recognition told them that my car was registered to someone the other end of the country^

That makes no sense at all! Surely part of the point of cars is that they move around the country? If I go on holiday to Scotland or Cornwall, I don't need to reregister my car.

MereDintofPandiculation · 25/08/2023 12:30

If I go on holiday to Scotland or Cornwall, I don't need to reregister my car. most people on holiday don't habitually drive around at 2am

Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 25/08/2023 12:38

It's none of the police's business why you're driving your car in a different area to where you live. That is exactly what cars are for!
Have also had this happen, during the day as well as at night, and no, they've never been able to justify why they thought there was something intrinsically dodgy about driving a car elsewhere!

Hecate01 · 27/08/2023 07:24

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 25/08/2023 12:05

I was pulled by the police at 2am on a Sunday morning after finishing work and their number plate recognition told them that my car was registered to someone the other end of the country^

That makes no sense at all! Surely part of the point of cars is that they move around the country? If I go on holiday to Scotland or Cornwall, I don't need to reregister my car.

I live on a council estate not St Ives. Clearly you have never experienced driving around one at 2am, guaranteed to get pulled over no matter what your intentions are.

Hecate01 · 27/08/2023 07:26

Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 25/08/2023 12:38

It's none of the police's business why you're driving your car in a different area to where you live. That is exactly what cars are for!
Have also had this happen, during the day as well as at night, and no, they've never been able to justify why they thought there was something intrinsically dodgy about driving a car elsewhere!

It is when you live in an area where drug use is rife and they are trying to stop it. Damned if they do and damned if they don't it would seem.

HelpMeGetThrough · 27/08/2023 08:10

We've got a pretentious plate, sorry personal plate on my OHs car. For ages if you typed the plate into the DVLA site or spoke to insurance companies, it came back as a motorbike.

KajsaKavat · 27/08/2023 08:26

MissInterpretation · 25/08/2023 08:29

I know I'm being crazy about this, but she has a dodgy past, has had problems with alcoholism, and I'm worried my friend is potentially getting into trouble again by being involved with her. It's a long story.

I hope you are ok with this now.
if your friend is an alcoholic she is very likely to relapse, there is nothing you can do to save her if she doesn’t want to be saved. Sorry!

watyawant · 27/08/2023 08:32

MissInterpretation · 25/08/2023 07:57

It just says 'there is a problem' and tells you to check the number. The back story - yes it is a private plate, and this person has had four different cars in the past couple of years, and previously the reg number has been recognised, no problems at all, but on this car it isn't....

You've been checking the number plate every time they get a new car for the last couple of years? And there's never been an issue before? This seems very intrusive.

Tbh no one can tell you. But it's possible it's newly registered and all above board but the system just hasn't updated yet OR it could be completely dodgy. We don't know.

VisionsOfSplendour · 27/08/2023 08:32

Could be a cock up or delay at the DVLA. What exactly are you thinking might be happening? That she's made up a reg no and got plates in that number? For what purpose?

CallumDansTransitVan · 27/08/2023 14:45

Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 25/08/2023 12:38

It's none of the police's business why you're driving your car in a different area to where you live. That is exactly what cars are for!
Have also had this happen, during the day as well as at night, and no, they've never been able to justify why they thought there was something intrinsically dodgy about driving a car elsewhere!

Would your opinion change if your car had been stolen or cloned without your knowledge and was discovered by the police doing a quick check.

I experienced it once where I had just bought a car the week previous. The police recognised the car as previously belonging a colleague and stopped me. Quick chat confirmed all was legit and on my way.

Original poster

MissInterpretation · 27/08/2023 20:13

I'm just being ridiculous and stalker-y and I hate myself for it. It's the car of a woman who has been seeing an ex of mine, and has really hurt him in the past. Me and ex are still friends but he has gone very quiet about her being back having said he would never go back to her in a million years, and I just hope she's not dragging him into anything dodgy again. It's none of my business. I know that. But it's driving me a bit mad. Probably just a delay in the system. I have to forget about it. I apologise for being a madwoman.

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wasahoarder · 27/08/2023 20:16

<whispers> I'd probably do similar because I can also be like this. What's good is that you're recognising it, now to stop doing it. Solidarity Op