Bulk file format

This section details the structure and format of the bulk data file, including field definitions and data types.

Warning Please note that certain fields in the bulk file may be added, omitted, or become deprecated in future releases. Any modifications to the bulk file format will be documented in this section.

An example from the bulk file:

{
  "registration": "SN97PLP",
  "registrationDate": "1973-09-21",
  "primaryColour": "Beige",
  "model": "AVENGER",
  "make": "HILLMAN",
  "fuelType": "Petrol",
  "motTests": [],
  "dataSource": "dvla",
  "last_update_date": "2023-12-04"
}
{
  "registration": "SE38GUW",
  "firstUsedDate": "2003-03-27",
  "registrationDate": "2003-03-27",
  "manufactureDate": "2003-03-27",
  "primaryColour": "Blue",
  "secondaryColour": "Not Stated",
  "engineSize": "1461",
  "model": "CLIO",
  "make": "RENAULT",
  "fuelType": "Diesel",
  "lastMotTestDate": "2017-03-10 12:21:09",
  "motTests": [
      {
          "completedDate": "2015-03-11 11:41:11",
          "motTestNumber": 971577975522,
          "dataSource": "dvsa",
          "expiryDate": "2016-03-10",
          "regMarkTimeOfTest": "SE38GUW",             
          "testResult": "PASSED",
          "odometerValue": "133230",
          "odometerUnit": "mi",
          "odometerResultType": "OK",
          "defects": []

      },
      {
          "completedDate": "2015-03-11 11:41:11",
          "motTestNumber": 971577565522,
          "dataSource": "dvsa",
          "expiryDate": "2016-03-10",
          "regMarkTimeOfTest": "SE38XUW",             
          "testResult": "PASSED",
          "odometerValue": "133230",
          "odometerUnit": "mi",
          "odometerResultType": "OK",
          "defects": [
              {
                  "dangerous": false,
                  "text": "",
                  "type": "ADVISORY"
              },
              {
                  "dangerous": false,
                  "text": "lens scuffed",
                  "type": "ADVISORY"
              }
          ]
      }
  ],
  "dataSource": "dvsa"
}

The following fields can contain provided values:

Field	Description	Example
registration	The vehicle registration number	SN97PLP
firstUsedDate	The date the vehicle was first registered	2003-03-27
registrationDate	The date the vehicle was registered	1973-09-21
manufactureDate	The date the vehicle was manufactured	2003-03-27
primaryColour	The vehicle primary colour	Beige
secondaryColour	The vehicle secondary colour	Not Stated
engineSize	The vehicle engine size	1461
model	The vehicle model	AVENGER
make	The vehicle make	HILLMAN
fuelType	The vehicle fuel type	Petrol
lastMotTestDate	The date of the last MOT test	2017-03-10 12:21:09
motTests	An array of test results	See example
last_update_date	The date the vehicle was last updated	2023-12-04

dataSource Column is now moved to motTests block.

MOT tests are stored in the motTests array and are sorted by the completedDate property value. Tests are sorted per data source. However, users are responsible for sorting all tests linked to a vehicle.

The possible dataSource values are:

dvla - Records with dvla source will only have vehicle information but not test and defect details.
dvsa - Records with dvsa source will have vehicle , test and defects details sorted by test completion date.
dva ni - Records with dva ni source will only have vehicle and test details but not defects sorted by test completion date.

The expected fuelType values are:

Diesel
Petrol
Electric

The motTests fields can contain provided values:

Field	Description	Example
completedDate	The date the test was completed	2015-03-11 11:41:11
motTestNumber	The test ceritifcate number.	123456789098
dataSource	The source of the vehicle data	dvla
expiryDate	The date the test is due to expire	2016-03-10
registrationAtTimeOfTest	The vehicle registration number at the time of the test	SE38GUW
testResult	The result of the test	PASSED
odometerValue	The vehicle odometer value	133230
odometerUnit	The vehicle odometer unit	mi
odometerResultType	The vehicle odometer result type	OK
defects	An array of defects	See example

The expected testResult values are:

PASSED
FAIL
PRS

The odometerUnit possible values are:

MI
KM

The odometerResultType values are:

OK
NOT_READ
NO_METER

The defects array fields can contain provided values:

Field	Description	Example
dangerous	Is the defect dangerous or not	false
text	The description of the defect	lens scuffed
type	The type of the defect	ADVISORY

The dangerous values are:

true
false

The expected type values are:

DANGEROUS
MAJOR
MINOR
ADVISORY

The bulk file JSON may also include metadata fields such as lastUpdateTimestamp, lastUpdateDate, lastRunDate and lastRunTimestamp. These fields provide details about when the bulk file was last updated, processed, or modified, helping users track the file’s update history and status.

Cherished Transfer - A cherished transfer refers to the process of moving a personalized (cherished) number plate from one vehicle to another, often with the assistance of a broker or directly through the DVLA.

Why “regAtTimeofTest” is required - Because vehicle registration marks can change over a vehicle’s lifetime (e.g., cherished transfers), analysing data solely on reg_mark may incorrectly link a vehicle to the wrong registration. To address this, a new column has been added to associate the correct vehicle at the time of test.