diff --git a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/include/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_storage.hpp b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/include/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_storage.hpp
index 33c2523293..4f17c69793 100644
--- a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/include/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_storage.hpp
+++ b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/include/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_storage.hpp
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ class ROSBAG2_STORAGE_DEFAULT_PLUGINS_PUBLIC SqliteStorage
    */
   SqliteWrapper & get_sqlite_database_wrapper();
 
+  int get_db_schema_version() const;
+  std::string get_recorded_ros_distro() const;
+
   enum class PresetProfile
   {
     Resilient,
@@ -113,6 +116,7 @@ class ROSBAG2_STORAGE_DEFAULT_PLUGINS_PUBLIC SqliteStorage
   void write_locked(std::shared_ptr<const rosbag2_storage::SerializedBagMessage> message)
   RCPPUTILS_TSA_REQUIRES(database_write_mutex_);
   int get_last_rowid();
+  int read_db_schema_version();
 
   using ReadQueryResult = SqliteStatementWrapper::QueryResult<
     std::shared_ptr<rcutils_uint8_array_t>, rcutils_time_point_value_t, std::string, int>;
@@ -137,6 +141,9 @@ class ROSBAG2_STORAGE_DEFAULT_PLUGINS_PUBLIC SqliteStorage
   // a) database access (this could also be done with FULLMUTEX), but see b)
   // b) topics_ collection - since we could be writing and reading it at the same time
   std::mutex database_write_mutex_;
+
+  const int kDBSchemaVersion_ = 3;
+  int db_schema_version_ = -1;  //  Valid version number starting from 1
 };
 
 
diff --git a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/include/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_wrapper.hpp b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/include/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_wrapper.hpp
index de39c52142..583c9d0117 100644
--- a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/include/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_wrapper.hpp
+++ b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/include/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_wrapper.hpp
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class ROSBAG2_STORAGE_DEFAULT_PLUGINS_PUBLIC SqliteWrapper
   SqliteWrapper();
   ~SqliteWrapper();
 
+  bool table_exists(const std::string & table_name);
   bool field_exists(const std::string & table_name, const std::string & field_name);
   SqliteStatement prepare_statement(const std::string & query);
   std::string query_pragma_value(const std::string & key);
diff --git a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/src/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_storage.cpp b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/src/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_storage.cpp
index c78d51077c..08ebd1291d 100644
--- a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/src/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_storage.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/src/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_storage.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "rcpputils/env.hpp"
 #include "rcpputils/filesystem_helper.hpp"
 
 #include "rosbag2_storage/metadata_io.hpp"
@@ -212,7 +213,10 @@ void SqliteStorage::open(
 
   // initialize only for READ_WRITE since the DB is already initialized if in APPEND.
   if (is_read_write(io_flag)) {
+    db_schema_version_ = kDBSchemaVersion_;
     initialize();
+  } else {
+    db_schema_version_ = read_db_schema_version();
   }
 
   // Reset the read and write statements in case the database changed.
@@ -368,21 +372,41 @@ uint64_t SqliteStorage::get_bagfile_size() const
 
 void SqliteStorage::initialize()
 {
-  std::string create_stmt = "CREATE TABLE topics(" \
+  std::string create_stmt = "CREATE TABLE schema(" \
+    "schema_version INTEGER PRIMARY KEY," \
+    "ros_distro TEXT NOT NULL);";
+  database_->prepare_statement(create_stmt)->execute_and_reset();
+
+  create_stmt = "CREATE TABLE metadata(" \
+    "id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY," \
+    "metadata_version INTEGER NOT NULL," \
+    "metadata TEXT NOT NULL);";
+  database_->prepare_statement(create_stmt)->execute_and_reset();
+
+  create_stmt = "CREATE TABLE topics(" \
     "id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY," \
     "name TEXT NOT NULL," \
     "type TEXT NOT NULL," \
     "serialization_format TEXT NOT NULL," \
     "offered_qos_profiles TEXT NOT NULL);";
   database_->prepare_statement(create_stmt)->execute_and_reset();
+
   create_stmt = "CREATE TABLE messages(" \
     "id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY," \
     "topic_id INTEGER NOT NULL," \
     "timestamp INTEGER NOT NULL, " \
     "data BLOB NOT NULL);";
   database_->prepare_statement(create_stmt)->execute_and_reset();
+
   create_stmt = "CREATE INDEX timestamp_idx ON messages (timestamp ASC);";
   database_->prepare_statement(create_stmt)->execute_and_reset();
+
+  std::string ros_distro = rcpputils::get_env_var("ROS_DISTRO");
+  auto insert_db_schema =
+    database_->prepare_statement(
+    "INSERT INTO schema (schema_version, ros_distro) VALUES (?, ?)");
+  insert_db_schema->bind(kDBSchemaVersion_, ros_distro);
+  insert_db_schema->execute_and_reset();
 }
 
 void SqliteStorage::create_topic(const rosbag2_storage::TopicMetadata & topic)
@@ -619,6 +643,23 @@ SqliteWrapper & SqliteStorage::get_sqlite_database_wrapper()
   return *database_;
 }
 
+int SqliteStorage::get_db_schema_version() const
+{
+  return db_schema_version_;
+}
+
+std::string SqliteStorage::get_recorded_ros_distro() const
+{
+  std::string ros_distro;
+  if (db_schema_version_ >= 3 && database_->table_exists("schema")) {
+    // Read schema version
+    auto statement = database_->prepare_statement("SELECT ros_distro from schema;");
+    auto query_results = statement->execute_query<std::string>();
+    ros_distro = std::get<0>(*query_results.begin());
+  }
+  return ros_distro;
+}
+
 int SqliteStorage::get_last_rowid()
 {
   auto statement = database_->prepare_statement("SELECT max(rowid) from messages;");
@@ -626,6 +667,25 @@ int SqliteStorage::get_last_rowid()
   return std::get<0>(*query_results.begin());
 }
 
+int SqliteStorage::read_db_schema_version()
+{
+  int schema_version = -1;
+  if (database_->table_exists("schema")) {
+    // Read schema version
+    auto statement = database_->prepare_statement("SELECT schema_version from schema;");
+    auto query_results = statement->execute_query<int>();
+    schema_version = std::get<0>(*query_results.begin());
+  } else {
+    if (database_->field_exists("topics", "offered_qos_profiles")) {
+      schema_version = 2;
+    } else {
+      schema_version = 1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return schema_version;
+}
+
 }  // namespace rosbag2_storage_plugins
 
 #include "pluginlib/class_list_macros.hpp"  // NOLINT
diff --git a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/src/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_wrapper.cpp b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/src/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_wrapper.cpp
index 45fb43d541..8e21f275fd 100644
--- a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/src/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_wrapper.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/src/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/sqlite_wrapper.cpp
@@ -144,6 +144,14 @@ std::string SqliteWrapper::query_pragma_value(const std::string & key)
   return std::get<0>(pragma_value);
 }
 
+bool SqliteWrapper::table_exists(const std::string & table_name)
+{
+  auto query =
+    "SELECT count(*) FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table' AND name='" + table_name + "';";
+  auto query_result = prepare_statement(query)->execute_query<int>();
+  return std::get<0>(*query_result.begin());
+}
+
 bool SqliteWrapper::field_exists(const std::string & table_name, const std::string & field_name)
 {
   auto query = "SELECT INSTR(sql, '" + field_name + "') FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table' AND "
diff --git a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/storage_test_fixture.hpp b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/storage_test_fixture.hpp
index 8429d8980b..2b2c01ead5 100644
--- a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/storage_test_fixture.hpp
+++ b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/storage_test_fixture.hpp
@@ -201,6 +201,50 @@ class StorageTestFixture : public TemporaryDirectoryFixture
     }
   }
 
+  void create_new_db3_file_with_schema_version_2()
+  {
+    auto db_file = (rcpputils::fs::path(temporary_dir_path_) / "rosbag").string();
+    std::string relative_path = db_file + ".db3";
+
+    // READ_WRITE requires the DB to not exist.
+    if (rcpputils::fs::path(relative_path).exists()) {
+      throw std::runtime_error(
+              "Failed to create bag: File '" + relative_path + "' already exists!");
+    }
+    using rosbag2_storage_plugins::SqliteWrapper;
+    using rosbag2_storage_plugins::SqliteException;
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string> pragmas;
+
+    std::shared_ptr<SqliteWrapper> database;
+    try {
+      database = std::make_unique<SqliteWrapper>(
+        relative_path,
+        rosbag2_storage::storage_interfaces::IOFlag::READ_WRITE,
+        std::move(pragmas));
+    } catch (const SqliteException & e) {
+      throw std::runtime_error("Failed to setup storage. Error: " + std::string(e.what()));
+    }
+
+    // Init database
+    std::string create_stmt = "CREATE TABLE topics(" \
+      "id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY," \
+      "name TEXT NOT NULL," \
+      "type TEXT NOT NULL," \
+      "serialization_format TEXT NOT NULL," \
+      "offered_qos_profiles TEXT NOT NULL);";
+    database->prepare_statement(create_stmt)->execute_and_reset();
+
+    create_stmt = "CREATE TABLE messages(" \
+      "id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY," \
+      "topic_id INTEGER NOT NULL," \
+      "timestamp INTEGER NOT NULL, " \
+      "data BLOB NOT NULL);";
+    database->prepare_statement(create_stmt)->execute_and_reset();
+
+    create_stmt = "CREATE INDEX timestamp_idx ON messages (timestamp ASC);";
+    database->prepare_statement(create_stmt)->execute_and_reset();
+  }
+
   std::vector<std::shared_ptr<rosbag2_storage::SerializedBagMessage>>
   read_all_messages_from_sqlite()
   {
diff --git a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test_sqlite_storage.cpp b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test_sqlite_storage.cpp
index 18b91c11cf..ef9c8d3726 100644
--- a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test_sqlite_storage.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test_sqlite_storage.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "rcpputils/env.hpp"
+
 #include "rcpputils/filesystem_helper.hpp"
 
 #include "rcutils/snprintf.h"
@@ -293,6 +295,46 @@ TEST_F(StorageTestFixture, messages_readable_for_prefoxy_db_schema) {
   }
 }
 
+TEST_F(StorageTestFixture, get_db_schema_version_returns_correct_value) {
+  auto writable_storage = std::make_shared<rosbag2_storage_plugins::SqliteStorage>();
+  EXPECT_EQ(writable_storage->get_db_schema_version(), -1);
+
+  auto db_file = (rcpputils::fs::path(temporary_dir_path_) / "rosbag").string();
+  writable_storage->open({db_file, plugin_id_});
+
+  EXPECT_GE(writable_storage->get_db_schema_version(), 3);
+}
+
+TEST_F(StorageTestFixture, get_recorded_ros_distro_returns_correct_value) {
+  auto writable_storage = std::make_shared<rosbag2_storage_plugins::SqliteStorage>();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(writable_storage->get_recorded_ros_distro().empty());
+
+  auto db_file = (rcpputils::fs::path(temporary_dir_path_) / "rosbag").string();
+  writable_storage->open({db_file, plugin_id_});
+
+  std::string current_ros_distro = rcpputils::get_env_var("ROS_DISTRO");
+  EXPECT_EQ(writable_storage->get_recorded_ros_distro(), current_ros_distro);
+}
+
+TEST_F(StorageTestFixture, check_backward_compatibility_with_schema_version_2) {
+  create_new_db3_file_with_schema_version_2();
+  std::unique_ptr<rosbag2_storage_plugins::SqliteStorage> readable_storage =
+    std::make_unique<rosbag2_storage_plugins::SqliteStorage>();
+
+  EXPECT_EQ(readable_storage->get_db_schema_version(), -1);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(readable_storage->get_recorded_ros_distro().empty());
+
+  auto db_file = (rcpputils::fs::path(temporary_dir_path_) / "rosbag.db3").string();
+
+  readable_storage->open(
+    {db_file, plugin_id_},
+    rosbag2_storage::storage_interfaces::IOFlag::READ_ONLY);
+  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<rosbag2_storage::SerializedBagMessage>> read_messages;
+
+  EXPECT_EQ(readable_storage->get_db_schema_version(), 2);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(readable_storage->get_recorded_ros_distro().empty());
+}
+
 TEST_F(StorageTestFixture, get_metadata_returns_correct_struct_if_no_messages) {
   write_messages_to_sqlite({});
 
diff --git a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test_sqlite_wrapper.cpp b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test_sqlite_wrapper.cpp
index b82ffc6f75..12b32c0481 100644
--- a/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test_sqlite_wrapper.cpp
+++ b/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test/rosbag2_storage_sqlite3/test_sqlite_wrapper.cpp
@@ -163,3 +163,10 @@ TEST_F(SqliteWrapperTestFixture, field_exists) {
   EXPECT_THROW(
     db_.field_exists("non_existent_table", "data"), rosbag2_storage_plugins::SqliteException);
 }
+
+TEST_F(SqliteWrapperTestFixture, table_exists) {
+  db_.prepare_statement("CREATE TABLE test_table (timestamp INTEGER, data BLOB);")
+  ->execute_and_reset();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(db_.table_exists("test_table"));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(db_.table_exists("non_existent_table"));
+}