Durham County Record Office: the official archive service for County Durham and Darlington

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What motor taxation/vehicle registration records do you keep?

What motor taxation/vehicle registration records do you keep?

We keep the following records which may help you to find the original registration details for a vintage car, motorcycle or tractor. Use the links to our online catalogue to see more information.

Many of the registers do not include original engine and chassis/frame numbers. Typically, the registers record the Registration mark/Name/Address/Make/Taxation class/Date of issue.

If you need a copy of an original registration entry for DVLA Swansea please ask us to supply a certified copy as DVLA will not accept uncertified copies as proof of registration. Order and pay for copies How to pay

County Durham

Durham County Council Motor Taxation Department, 1922-1942; 1959-1962

ref: MT Durham County Council Motor Taxation Department

Durham Constabulary, 1954-1980

ref: CCP 10 Vehicle Registration Registers

Sunderland

County Borough of Sunderland Register of Motor Cars and Motor Cycles, 1921-1933 (cards give chassis and engine numbers)

ref: MT/BR County Borough of Sunderland

County Borough of Sunderland Transfer of Registration of Vehicles from other authorities to Sunderland, c.1955-1965 (endorsed on the cards are details of the first registration of vehicles, 1933-1948)

ref: MT/GR County Borough of Sunderland (registration transfers)

Darlington

Darlington Borough Registers of Motor Cars and Motor Cycles, 1915-1974

ref: Da/CS 2 Registration of motor vehicles

For more information about local authority vehicle registration records see:

Philip Riden
How to trace the history of your car: a guide to motor vehicle registration records in the British Isles [second edition]
Merton Priory Press, 1998
Record Office Library L 49