DVLA Vehicle Lookup is a lightweight WordPress plugin that lets users enter a UK vehicle registration number and fetch official data from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) API. It is ideal for mechanic booking websites, MOT check tools, or vehicle data portals.
- Clean AJAX-based vehicle registration form with Font Awesome icon
- Uses official DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service API
- Redirect users to any page after lookup with dynamic query key
- Stores vehicle data using WordPress transients (15 min expiry)
- Includes daily cleanup cron job to prevent database bloat
- Shortcode to render vehicle data in a responsive table
- Proper error handling and fallback messaging
- Upload the plugin files to the
/wp-content/plugins/directory, or install via WordPress admin. - Activate the plugin.
- Define your DVLA API key in
wp-config.php:
define('DVLA_API_KEY', 'your_api_key_here');- Use the lookup shortcode:
[vehicle_lookup_form redirect="/booking-details/"]
- On your target booking/details page, use this shortcode to display results:
[display_vehicle_details]
- Renders a styled form to input vehicle registration.
- On submit, performs AJAX lookup, saves results to a transient.
- Redirects to the given
redirectURL with alookup_keyin the query string.
- Reads the transient based on
lookup_keyfrom URL. - Displays a well-formatted table of vehicle data.
- Automatically handles missing fields.
- User visits
/lookup, enters vehicle reg number. - Plugin sends data to DVLA and saves results in a transient.
- User is redirected to
/booking-details/?lookup_key=abc123. - That page contains
[display_vehicle_details]and shows vehicle info.
The plugin includes a scheduled daily cron job that scans for and removes expired transients beginning with vehicle_lookup_. This prevents your wp_options table from bloating over time.
Where can I get a DVLA API key?
You can register at: https://developer-portal.driver-vehicle-licensing.api.gov.uk/apis/vehicle-enquiry-service
Is the data cached?
Yes. Vehicle data is stored in a transient for 15 minutes to reduce API calls.
What if the API fails?
A clean error message is shown to the user. The page does not crash.
Can I change the redirect page?
Yes — you control it via the redirect attribute in the shortcode.
Is it compatible with page builders?
Yes — you can add the shortcodes anywhere shortcodes are supported (Gutenberg, Elementor, etc.).
This plugin is open-source and released under the GPL v2 or later license.
- Added styled input form with Font Awesome icon
- Added transient caching for DVLA responses
- Added shortcode to display results
- Implemented daily cron cleanup for expired transients
- Improved error handling and validation
Created by: Roy Mahfooz
Website: https://roymahfooz.com
Need help or customization? Reach out!