Why would a bailiff ask to check a car registration?

Bailiffs do not have the ability to search the DVLA database to see whether a person owns a vehicle, or see what vehicle registrations are linked to him.

The DVLA offers subscriber accounts to bailiff companies, parking companies, and local authorities that enables them to get the name and address of a keeper from vehicle registration, and there is a charge each time a vehicle registration is searched.

The vehicle registration search gives the name and address of the keeper. It also gives the mobile number the keeper entered on the new keeper slip when they first bought the car.

Bailiffs may send spam text messages to the keeper if there is an unpaid traffic debt and they cannot find the contravention vehicle, or for some reason, cannot take control of the contravention vehicle.^[1]

^{[1] See Dealing with bailiffs sending spam text messages}