PlateAPIThe Affordable Australian Rego Plate Lookup API
GET /api/v1/lookup?plate=ABC123&state=VIC
Vehicle data without the enterprise price tag. Send a registration plate and state to a single REST endpoint and get the model year range, make, model, body type, and engine displacement back as JSON. Cars, utes, motorcycles, vans, SUVs -- if it has a plate, we cover it. Each new plate is looked up live, and repeat lookups within 3 days return instantly. Covers all eight Australian states and territories, with typical responses under 3 seconds. Plans start at $0 -- 20 free lookups a month, no credit card required.
Built in Australia for auto parts stores, vehicle services, dealerships, and fleet operators. No SDK needed -- works with any HTTP client in any language.
Try It
Enter any Australian registration plate. This calls the production API in real time -- no mocks.
What You Get Back
{
"success": true,
"vehicle": {
"year_range": "2015-2020",
"lowest_year": 2015,
"highest_year": 2020,
"make": "TOYOTA",
"model": "HILUX",
"description": "15~20 TOYOTA HILUX SR 2.8L DIESEL",
"body": "UTE",
"engine": "2.8L",
"vehicle_id": 1380801,
"detailed_description": "TOYOTA HILUX SR Auto or Manual AN120 AN130 05/2015~12/2020 4 Door UTE 4x4 DIESEL 2.8 litre, 1GD-FTV I4 16v DOHC I/C Turbo DI {130kW}"
},
"request_id": "req_7f3a9c1b4e8d2f6a0c5e3d1b",
"source": "plateapi",
"duration_ms": 1417.46,
"alternatives": [
{
"year_range": "2015-2020",
"lowest_year": 2015,
"highest_year": 2020,
"make": "TOYOTA",
"model": "HILUX",
"description": "15~20 TOYOTA HILUX SR5 2.8L DIESEL",
"body": "UTE",
"engine": "2.8L",
"vehicle_id": 2028824
}
],
"match": "multiple"
}Structured Vehicle Data
Every successful lookup returns a structured JSON object with the vehicle's model year range, make, model, body type, and engine displacement. Pass detailed=true for an extended description with chassis codes, drivetrain, fuel type, engine code, and power output. Responses include timing data.
The first lookup of a plate runs live at the moment you ask. A found result is kept for up to 3 days, so repeat lookups of the same plate return instantly; not-found results are never kept.
When a plate maps to multiple variants (such as different engine options on the same model), the API returns alternative matches so your application can handle ambiguity.
All eight Australian states and territories are supported: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, and WA.
Why PlateAPI
All States & Territories
ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, and WA through one endpoint and one response format, so there is no per-state code to write. Cars, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles. Every plan covers every state.
Live Lookups
The first lookup of a plate runs live at request time, typically back in under 3 seconds. Repeat lookups of the same plate within 3 days come back instantly, and not-found results are never cached, so a missed plate is checked live again next time.
Structured JSON
Year range, make, model, body type, engine displacement, and a stable vehicle ID in one predictable response. The same fields for every state, plus a request ID on every call for support.
Vehicle Database Included
23,000+ Australian market vehicle variants across 225+ makes (125,000+ year-level records), from passenger cars to trucks and buses, plus 15,000+ motorcycles, scooters, and ATVs. Seven-level cascading make, model, year, series, engine, and variant queries for dropdowns on Starter plans and above.
Vehicle IDs and Alternatives
When a plate could be more than one variant, every candidate comes back with its own stable vehicle ID, and the match field tells you whether it is one vehicle, several trims of one model, or different models. Show a "which one is yours?" picker instead of guessing, then store the ID against the order or the customer's garage.
Simple REST API
One GET request per lookup, authenticated with an API key in a header. No OAuth flow and no SDK required, though official SDKs exist for six languages. Works with any HTTP client, and the free TEST123 sandbox plate makes development and CI free.
Official SDKs
PlateAPI is a plain REST API -- you don't need an SDK to use it. These are optional clients for six languages that add typed errors, automatic retry with backoff, rate limit handling, and input validation.
Built For
Auto Parts Stores
Build a rego search to garage feature: a customer enters their number plate, PlateAPI identifies the vehicle (year range, make, model, engine), and your store filters to compatible parts. Works for cars, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles. Replaces slow make/model/year dropdowns with a single field. Works across all Australian states and territories.
Vehicle Services
Workshops, detailers, motorcycle mechanics, and service centres can identify vehicles at intake without manual data entry. Faster check-in, fewer errors.
Dealerships & Finance
Quick vehicle identification for trade-in quotes, valuations, and loan applications. Verify vehicle details from a plate number in seconds.
Fleet Management
Track and identify vehicles across your fleet. Integrate plate lookups into your management system to keep records accurate and up to date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What data does the API return?
Each lookup returns the vehicle model year range (with lowest and highest year), make, model, body type (sedan, hatchback, ute, motorcycle, scooter, etc.), engine displacement, a full description string, a stable vehicle_id for the exact variant, a match field (exact, multiple, or ambiguous), and alternative vehicle matches, each with its own vehicle_id, when the plate maps to multiple variants. Pass detailed=true to also receive an extended description with chassis codes, drivetrain, engine code, and power output when available (may be null for some vehicles).
Which Australian states and territories are supported?
All eight: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, and WA. Every plan covers every state at no extra cost.
Can I get make, model, and year lists for dropdown menus?
Yes. Starter plans and above include the vehicle database endpoint: a seven-level cascading query API covering 23,000+ Australian market vehicle variants across 225+ makes (125,000+ year-level records), from passenger cars to trucks and buses. Call it with no parameters for the list of makes, then narrow by make, model, year, series, engine, and variant to get full vehicle records -- perfect for vehicle selector dropdowns. Vehicle database queries do not count toward your monthly lookup quota.
How fast are lookup responses?
Typical response time is under 3 seconds. Every response includes a duration_ms field so you can monitor performance in your application.
How up to date is the vehicle data?
The first lookup of a plate is performed live at request time. A successful result is then cached for up to 3 days, so repeat lookups of the same plate and state return instantly; a newly registered vehicle or a plate transfer can take up to 3 days to show. Not-found results are never cached, so a plate that was not found is checked live again next time.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. The free tier includes 20 lookups per month with a rate limit of 1 request per minute. No credit card required.
What happens when I hit my monthly lookup limit?
Once you reach your monthly limit, further requests return HTTP 429 until your billing cycle resets. You can upgrade your plan at any time (takes effect immediately) or buy a top-up pack from your dashboard -- 500 lookups for A$79 or 1,000 for A$119. Top-up credits never expire and are used automatically after your plan quota runs out.
What format are API responses in?
All responses are JSON. Lookups return 200 with a success flag and a machine-readable code field (including when no vehicle is found), 400 for invalid requests, 401 for missing or invalid API keys, 403 when your plan does not include an endpoint (the vehicle database needs Starter or above) or your IP is not on the key's allowlist, 429 when rate or quota limits are exceeded, and 503 with code lookup_failed when a lookup cannot be completed (never billed; retry after a few seconds).
Do I need an SDK to use PlateAPI?
No. PlateAPI is a plain REST API: one GET request per lookup, with your API key in a header. Any HTTP client in any language works -- curl, fetch, requests, or whatever your stack uses. Official SDKs for six languages are available if you want typed errors and automatic retries.
How do I add rego plate lookup to my auto parts store?
Sign up for a free API key, then call the PlateAPI lookup endpoint from your backend with the customer's plate and state. The API returns the vehicle's year range, make, model, body type, and engine, which you use to filter your parts catalogue to compatible items. This pattern is called "rego search to garage" and works with any ecommerce platform or custom-built store.
What is the best API for Australian rego plate lookups?
PlateAPI is an Australian-built REST API that covers all eight states and territories in a single endpoint. It returns structured JSON with the vehicle's year range, make, model, body type, and engine displacement. Plans start at $0 with 20 free lookups per month, and paid plans from $29/month. No SDK required -- it works with any HTTP client.
How do I build a rego search to garage feature?
A rego search to garage feature lets customers enter their number plate to identify their vehicle, then saves it to their account. You call the PlateAPI lookup endpoint with the plate and state, receive the vehicle details, filter your parts catalogue, and store the vehicle in the customer's garage for future visits. PlateAPI provides both the plate lookup and a vehicle database endpoint for a make/model/year dropdown fallback.