Car Spec by Reg: How to Confirm Factory Options Before You Travel to View a Car or Van, even EV or Hybrid

Why confirming spec before you travel matters

Many vehicles share similar badges and model names across different years and derivatives. One small difference can change value, running costs, insurance and suitability.

• Trim level misdescribed in adverts is common and can hide missing equipment
• Engine and gearbox variants within the same model range can feel similar in listings but are not the same vehicle
• Drivetrain differences can be deal breakers for towing, traction and winter use
• For vans, payload, wheelbase and weight limits are often misunderstood or not listed at all
• For EV and hybrid vehicles, range and charging compatibility are frequently overstated or missing entirely

What Rapid Car Check gives you now

In the Complete Check you can see deep factory level specification alongside DVLA context. This combination is designed to reduce misunderstandings, spot mismatches early and support confident comparisons between similar listings.

Factory level IDS codes and deep derivative mapping

The Complete Check can include factory level identifiers and structured descriptors such as:

• IDS code to anchor the vehicle to a defined factory spec
• Introduced date and production end date where available
• Manufacturer, model range and model tree descriptions
• Derivative and derivative tree descriptions for deep trim level clarity
• Body type description and door count
• Fuel type, fuel delivery and transmission type
• Engine configuration type and drivetrain description
• Model year and full model year mapping where available
• Special edition indicator where available
• P11D price where available
• Commercial vehicle indicator where available

Full vehicle identification and DVLA context

You can also receive the day to day identity and status context that affects buying decisions and ownership admin:

• VRM, VIN and internal vehicle IDs where returned
• Make, model and wheelplan descriptors
• Registration date and first registration date
• Manufactured year and V5C quantity and issue date where returned
• Engine number where returned
• Body description and DVLA fuel type
• Used before first registration flag where returned
• NI related VRM fields where returned

Vehicle status checks that can change the decision fast

A vehicle can be correctly described for trim but still carry a status that changes your risk profile. The Complete Check can include status flags and dates such as:

• Imported status and non EU import indicator where available
• Exported status and exported date where available
• Scrapped status and scrapped date where available
• Certificate of Destruction issued indicator where available

If any of these appear, stop and ask for a clear explanation and supporting evidence before travelling.

Tax and emissions context including CO2 and VED

Vehicle tax costs can be a nasty surprise, especially on higher CO2 vehicles or premium rate periods. Your report can include vehicle excise duty fields such as:

• CO2 g per km and DVLA CO2 band where available
• First year VED value where available
• Year 2 to 6 VED values including premium rate variants where available
• 6 month and 12 month VED values where available

Colour history and changes

Colour changes are not automatically a problem, but they are a reason to ask why. The check can include:

• Current colour
• Original colour and last colour where returned
• Colour change count and date of last colour change where available

Keeper changes and plate changes

Frequent changes do not always mean a problem but they are a strong prompt to ask more questions. The check can include:

Keeper change indicators

• Number of previous keepers where available
• Date of last keeper change where available

Plate transfer indicators

• Current VRM and previous VRM where available
• Transfer type and date of receipt where available
• Cherished plate transfer date where available

Deep model and body detail for cars and vans

This is where buyers of similar looking vehicles get caught out. A proper spec check can include rich model and body fields such as:

Model identity

• Manufacturer, model range and model descriptions
• Variant codes and series descriptors where available
• Model start date and model end date where available
• Emission class such as Euro 6 where available
• Country of origin where available
• Market sector code and type approval category where available
• Vehicle type and taxation class where available
• Fuel type description at model level where available

Body configuration

• Body shape and body type description such as SUV estate where available
• Cab type and wheelbase type for vans where available
• Platform descriptors and whether platform shared where available
• Fuel tank capacity where available
• Axles, doors and seats
• Payload volume where available

Dimensions

• Height, length, width and wheelbase
• Load length where available

Weights and towing relevance

• Kerbweight, unladen weight and payload weight where available
• Gross vehicle weight and gross combined weight where available
• Gross train weight where available

Power source: petrol, diesel, hybrid and EV detail

Rapid Car Check can return a power source type and then deeper detail based on the propulsion system. This is particularly useful for EV and plug in hybrid vehicles where listings often over simplify the spec.

ICE engine details for petrol and diesel

Where available, the report can include a detailed engine profile such as:

• Engine family, capacity and badged size
• Number of cylinders, cylinder arrangement and engine location
• Aspiration type and fuel delivery type
• Valves per cylinder and valve gear type where available
• Engine manufacturer where available
• Bore and stroke where available
• Engine description fields where available

Hybrid and EV details

For EV and hybrid vehicles, the report can include multiple layers of spec that help you confirm charging, range, battery and compatibility before you travel.

EV hardware and platform context

• Manufacturing location where available
• Platform name and platform shared indicator where available
• Tesla Supercharger compatibility indicator where available

Warranty information

• Manufacturer vehicle warranty miles and months where available
• Battery warranty months and mileage where available

Range figures and real world range indicators

• Real electric range in miles and km where available
• Fast charger charge speed style indicators where available
• Zero emission mileage where available
• WLTP range figures including combined and city cycles where available

Charging and efficiency

• Max kW charge input where available
• Efficiency metrics such as watt hours per mile where available
• Drag coefficient where available

Software

• OTA upgradeable indicator where available
• Latest OTA version where available
• In vehicle software descriptor where available

Charge cables

• Charge cable descriptions and whether standard where available

Tesla Supercharger compatibility detail

• Compatibility indicator and whether a CCS adaptor is required where available
• Supercharger max charge kW where available
• Average 10 to 80 percent charge time where available

Battery detail

• Badged battery capacity in kWh where available
• Battery type and voltage where available
• Battery location where available
• Battery description fields where available

Charge port details and charge time estimates

• Charge port type and location where available
• Onboard charger max power where available
• Whether the charge port is standard where available
• Average 10 to 80 percent charge times by EVSE power where available

Electric motor details

• Motor manufacturer, model and motor type where available
• Max net power in kW, torque and motor location where available
• Driving axle and regen braking indicator where available
• Additional motor information where available

Transmission detail

• Transmission type, number of gears and location where available

Safety ratings, emissions, performance and economy

Where available, the report can include structured performance and safety data to help you compare similar vehicles.

Euro NCAP safety ratings

• Overall rating
• Adult occupant, child occupant, pedestrian protection and safety assist percentages where available

Emissions

• CO2 g per km where available
• Fuel catalyst indicator where available

Performance

• Power in bhp, PS and kW plus power rpm where available
• Torque in Nm and lb ft plus torque rpm where available
• 0 to 60 mph, 0 to 100 kmh and top speed where available

Fuel economy

• Combined mpg and litres per 100 km where available
• NEDC extra urban figures where available

Sound levels

• Stationary sound level and rpm where available
• Drive by sound level where available

Transmission and drivetrain summary

• Drive type description and driving axle where available
• Transmission type and number of gears where available

How to use this before you travel

1) Verify the identity and derivative first

• Confirm the VRM and check for plate transfers if it is on a private plate
• Confirm the IDS code and derivative tree to lock the trim and exact variant
• Confirm drivetrain and transmission as these are frequently mislisted

2) Check status flags that should stop the trip

• If scrapped, exported or a Certificate of Destruction is shown, do not travel until you have proof and a clear explanation
• If imported, ask for evidence of origin and import documentation

3) If it is EV or hybrid, validate charging and range

• Confirm range figures and the test cycle type where returned
• Confirm charge port type and location and the max charge input
• Confirm battery capacity, battery location and battery warranty details
• Confirm any Tesla Supercharger compatibility and adaptor requirements if relevant to your charging plan

4) For vans, confirm payload and wheelbase

• Check wheelbase type, load length and payload weight where available
• Confirm gross vehicle weight and gross train weight if towing

Run a Complete Check with factory spec

Use the Rapid Car Check Complete Check to see IDS codes, deep trim and derivative mapping plus detailed car and van specification:

Complete vehicle report

Frequently asked questions