How do I check my car's fuel type by registration?

A car's fuel type — petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric, or LPG — is recorded on its official DVLA record and can be checked using just the registration number.

Why this is worth confirming rather than assuming:

• Some models were sold with multiple fuel type options, so the badge or appearance alone doesn't always confirm which one you're looking at, especially with hybrids that can look identical to their standard petrol equivalent
• Fuel type directly affects road tax rate, ULEZ/clean air zone charges, and insurance, so it's worth being certain rather than going by assumption
• A registration lookup will show fuel type alongside other core details like engine size and CO2 figures, since they're drawn from the same official vehicle record

If you're buying a used car and the fuel type matters to you — for example, needing a diesel for regular long-distance driving, or specifically wanting a hybrid for ULEZ purposes — checking this against the official record before you view the car can save a wasted trip if the listing turns out to be inaccurate.