How do I find my DVLA API Key?

Register at the [**DVLA Developer portal**](https://developer-portal.driver-vehicle-licensing.api.gov.uk/), create an application, and you will receive your API Key. Copy and paste it below.

Does it support vehicles outside the UK?

No. The DVLA API only provides data for vehicles registered within the United Kingdom.

Can the agent check if a car has a valid MOT?

Yes. The `get_vehicle_mot_status` tool returns the current status and expiry date of the MOT for any specified registration number.

DVLA Vehicle API MCP Server for Cursor 6 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: DVLA Vehicle API
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

Built by Vinkius GDPR 6 Tools IDE

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.

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The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install DVLA Vehicle API and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dvla-vehicle-api": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About DVLA Vehicle API MCP Server

Empower your AI agent to orchestrate your entire automotive research and vehicle auditing workflow with DVLA Vehicle API, the official source for United Kingdom vehicle data. By connecting the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) API to your agent, you transform complex registration lookups into a natural conversation. Your agent can instantly verify tax and MOT statuses, audit vehicle specifications, and retrieve environmental metadata without you ever touching a government portal. Whether you are conducting fleet management or verifying a vehicle's history, your agent acts as a real-time automotive consultant, ensuring your data is always grounded in official, government-verified records.

Cursor's Agent mode turns DVLA Vehicle API into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from DVLA Vehicle API and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 6 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

What you can do

Vehicle Auditing — Retrieve comprehensive details for any UK-registered vehicle, including make, model, and registration metadata.
Status Oversight — Verify current tax and MOT status to maintain strict control over legal compliance and expiration dates.
Specification Intelligence — Query technical specs such as engine capacity, fuel type, and colour to assist in vehicle identification.
Environmental Monitoring — Retrieve CO2 emission data and fuel types to understand the environmental footprint of specific vehicles.
Operational Monitoring — Check API status to ensure your automotive research workflow is always operational.

The DVLA Vehicle API MCP Server exposes 6 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect DVLA Vehicle API to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the DVLA Vehicle API MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using DVLA Vehicle API

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using DVLA Vehicle API, help me...". 6 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the DVLA Vehicle API MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with DVLA Vehicle API through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

DVLA Vehicle API + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the DVLA Vehicle API MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

DVLA Vehicle API MCP Tools for Cursor (6)

These 6 tools become available when you connect DVLA Vehicle API to Cursor via MCP:

check_api_status

Check if the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry API is operational

get_vehicle_details

Get comprehensive details for a UK vehicle by registration number

get_vehicle_environmental_data

Get CO2 emissions and fuel type details for a vehicle

get_vehicle_mot_status

Check the current MOT status and expiry date for a vehicle

get_vehicle_specifications

Get technical specifications (make, model, engine) for a vehicle

get_vehicle_tax_status

Check the current tax status and due date for a vehicle

Example Prompts for DVLA Vehicle API in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with DVLA Vehicle API immediately.

"Get details for UK vehicle with registration 'AA11AAA' using DVLA Vehicle API."

"What is the MOT status for registration 'BB22BBB'?"

"Show specifications for car registration 'CC33CCC'."

Troubleshooting DVLA Vehicle API MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting DVLA Vehicle API to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

DVLA Vehicle API + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating DVLA Vehicle API MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design. tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.