Vehicle checks
Free MOT check and MOT history
Enter a registration to see whether the car has a valid MOT and the date it runs out, then every MOT test it has had, with the result, failure reasons, advisories and odometer reading for each.
What does an MOT check show?
An MOT check shows whether a car has a valid MOT and the date it runs out. It then lists every MOT test since 2005: the date, the result, each defect the tester recorded, any advisories and the mileage on the day. The records come from the DVSA, the source GOV.UK uses.
What each MOT test tells you
For every test on the record you can see:
- The date and whether the car passed or failed
- Each defect the tester found, graded dangerous, major or minor on tests from 20 May 2018 onwards
- Advisories: items that passed but were close to failing
- The odometer reading at the time of the test
- The date the current MOT runs out
We show this beside the DVLA record for the same registration. Check that the make, colour and engine match the advert before you read the history.
How to read an MOT history before you buy
- Look for a pattern. One failed bulb followed by a pass is normal. The same suspension or brake item failing year after year tells you how the car has been looked after.
- We’d read the advisories before the failures. Corrosion, worn tyres and oil leaks often appear as advisories a year or two before they cause a fail. Ask whether the work was done and ask to see the invoice.
- Follow the mileage column. Each reading should be higher than the one before. A drop or a missing year deserves a question.
- Check the expiry date. A car sold with only weeks of MOT left will need a test soon after you buy it.
What MOT advisories meanHow to spot a clocked carWhen the next MOT is due
What MOT history leaves out
An MOT checks that a car meets road safety and environmental standards on the day of the test. It says nothing about outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. Nor does it show whether the car has been reported stolen. You can add those checks with the CAR Confidence Score report once the free result has confirmed the car.
Our check does not look for outstanding safety recalls. GOV.UK has a free checker for those.
Outstanding finance checkWrite-off checkStolen car checkGOV.UK: Check the MOT history of a vehicleGOV.UK: Check if a vehicle has been recalled
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is the MOT check free?
Yes. You get the MOT status, the full MOT history and the DVLA vehicle details without an account or a card. You pay nothing unless you decide on a paid report.
How far back does MOT history go?
For cars, the records start in 2005. A car registered before then shows its tests from 2005 onwards. Tests done in Northern Ireland are on record from 2017.
Why does a car have no MOT history?
A car in Great Britain needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, so a newer car may not have had one yet. Vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago can be exempt if nobody has made substantial changes to them.
What is the difference between an advisory and a failure?
A failure means the car fell below the standard on the day and needed a repair before it could pass. An advisory is an item that passed but that the tester expects to need attention soon.
Does a pass mean the car is in good condition?
Not on its own. The MOT checks road safety and environmental standards on the day of the test. It isn’t a service or a mechanical inspection, so get anything expensive checked by a mechanic before you buy.
Guides
More checks before you buy
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Check it before you go and see it
DVLA details, tax and MOT status, mileage and the full MOT history, free for any UK registration.