Via this service, vehicle holder, vehicle owner and vehicle Insurance can be exchanged between National Contact Points of Member States. The service used to be called the Prüm service, because the initial legal basic consisted of a multilateral treaty, that was signed in the German city of Prüm.
Currently the legal basis for exchange is Council Decision 2008/615/JHA of 23 June 2008 and Council Decision 2008/616/JHA of 23 June 2008.
A search for vehicles can be carried out via the licence plate number. Now, the search is directed to one specific country, i.e the country where the vehicle is registered or has been registered. A search can also be carried out via the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). In that case, the search is either directed to one specific country, or directed to all countries connected to the network (Multi Country Inquiry or MCI).
Results of the search consist of basic identifying vehicle data, vehicle registration data, vehicle signals (such as information that the vehicle has been stolen or exported or destructed), information about the vehicle holder and owner (name, address, period of holdership or ownership), and, finally, vehicle insurance information.
The search for insurance information is done via a separate inquiry, integrated into the inquiry by license plate number or VIN. The provision of Insurance information is not supported by all connected Member States.
For further information about the Prüm service, visit the knowledge base.
For information about the meaning and use of vehicle signals, visit our dedicated information page on vehicle signals.
For detailed information provision per Member State, visit the data overview (**) page.
** Valid credentials are required to access the files on this site. Credentials can be requested via EUCARIS Operations