Is CORGI Still a Thing? How to Check an Engineer Is Gas Safe Registered
No. CORGI is no longer the official register for gas engineers. Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI registration in 2009. Anyone who does gas work for money must now be on the Gas Safe Register. A “CORGI registered” engineer isn’t a thing any more, whatever an old van, website or business card says.
You can check any engineer in a couple of minutes. Ask to see their Gas Safe ID card, then check their seven-digit licence number on the Gas Safe Register website or by calling 0800 408 5500.
Why people still say “CORGI”
CORGI was the gas registration body for decades, so the name stuck. Plenty of people still search for a “CORGI gas engineer” or “CORGI boiler service” when they mean a Gas Safe one.
The CORGI name still exists as a private company offering other services, but it isn’t the legal register. Being “CORGI” doesn’t show that someone is legally allowed to work on your gas appliances. Only Gas Safe registration does that.
What the Gas Safe ID card shows
Every Gas Safe registered engineer carries a photo ID card. It’s worth looking at both sides.
On the front:
- the engineer’s photo and name
- their seven-digit licence number
- the business they’re registered with
- the card’s start and expiry dates
On the back:
- the types of gas work they’re qualified to do
The back of the card matters more than people think. Gas Safe registration isn’t one blanket qualification. An engineer might be qualified for natural gas boilers and cookers but not gas fires, or for natural gas but not LPG. Make sure the job you’re booking, such as a boiler, a gas fire or a cooker, is listed on the back of the card.
How to check an engineer is registered
There are three ways to check, and none of them takes long:
| Method | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Use the “Check an engineer” search on the Gas Safe Register website, using the licence number or the business’s registration number | Checking before you book |
| Phone | Call Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500 | If you’re not online |
| Text | Text “Gas” plus the seven-digit licence number to 85080 | A quick check on the doorstep |
Ideally, check the business before you book and then check the individual engineer when they arrive. The person at your door should match the photo and name on the card, and the licence number should come up as current.
When you need a Gas Safe engineer
Any work on a gas appliance or gas pipework in your home needs a Gas Safe registered engineer. That includes:
- installing, servicing or repairing a gas boiler
- fitting, moving or disconnecting a gas cooker or hob
- gas fire installation, servicing and repair
- landlord gas safety checks
- altering gas pipework, including moving a gas meter’s outlet pipe
What you can safely do yourself is limited to things like reading the boiler pressure, topping up through the filling loop as the manual explains, bleeding radiators and resetting the boiler. Anything behind the boiler casing is not a DIY job.
Oil boilers and heat pumps are different. Oil boilers are covered by OFTEC registration rather than Gas Safe, and heat pump installers need MCS certification if you want a government grant.
See our boiler servicing and repairs by Gas Safe registered engineers.
Warning signs to watch for
- The engineer doesn’t have a card or won’t show it.
- The card has expired, or the photo doesn’t match the person.
- The work you need isn’t listed on the back of the card.
- They describe themselves as “CORGI registered” and nothing else.
- The quote is unusually cheap and they want cash with no paperwork.
If you’re not satisfied, don’t let the work go ahead. You’re entitled to check, and a genuine engineer won’t mind you asking.
What to do if you suspect illegal gas work
If someone has done gas work in your home and they’re not registered, or you’re worried the work is unsafe:
- If you smell gas or think there’s a risk, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 straight away.
- Report the illegal gas worker to Gas Safe Register, either online or on 0800 408 5500.
- Have a registered engineer check the work before you use the appliance again.
Questions to ask on top of Gas Safe registration
Gas Safe registration tells you the engineer is legally allowed to do the work. It doesn’t tell you anything about price, guarantees or insurance. Before you book, it’s also worth asking:
- Do you have public liability insurance?
- Will you register the new boiler with the manufacturer and notify Building Control? (For new boiler installations. Gas Safe registered engineers can self-certify the notification.)
- What guarantee do you give on the work?
FAQs
My old boiler certificate says CORGI. Is it still valid?
A CORGI-era installation certificate is still a historic record of work done back then. It isn’t evidence that the boiler is safe today, though. A boiler that old should be serviced every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Does a Gas Safe engineer have to show me their ID?
You’re entitled to ask, and a registered engineer should be happy to show you their card. If they won’t, don’t let the work go ahead.
Is Gas Safe registration the same in Northern Ireland?
Yes. Gas Safe Register covers Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.