10 November 2025
What Car History Reports Don't Tell You
A car history report is essential, but it's not magic. Here's what even the best reports can't show you — and why you still need to use your eyes.
MOT history is one of the most valuable tools for used car buyers, yet many people don't know how to use it properly. This guide will teach you how to extract maximum insight from MOT records.
💡 Did You Know?
While MOT history is publicly available, manually checking years of records to spot mileage rollbacks is tedious and error-prone. Carpeep includes all MOT history data in your report AND automatically flags any mileage discrepancies—you get everything checked instantly, no separate searches needed.
📋 What is an MOT?
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) test is an annual safety and emissions inspection required for all UK vehicles over three years old. The complete history of these tests is publicly available online - and it's incredibly revealing.
🔍 What MOT History Actually Shows (And What It Doesn't)
MOT history ONLY reveals safety and emissions test data. It cannot show insurance write-offs, stolen status, outstanding finance, or accident history. However, it's still valuable for spotting mileage fraud and maintenance issues.
30%
Of used cars have clocked mileage
All Included
MOT history data in Carpeep reports
Instant
Mileage discrepancy alerts
1️⃣ Mileage Verification
This is perhaps the most important use of MOT history. Every test records the current mileage, creating an irrefutable timeline. (Note: While MOT history is publicly available, Carpeep includes all this data in your report and automatically flags any discrepancies—no manual checking needed.)
What to Look For
- Consistent mileage increases between tests
- Annual mileage around 7,000-12,000 is typical
- No sudden drops or freezing mileage
- Reasonable jumps for the time period
🚨 Example Red Flag
MOT shows 80,000 miles in 2022, then 60,000 miles in 2023. The odometer has been rolled back by 20,000 miles. This is illegal mileage clocking.
2️⃣ Maintenance Patterns
The advisory notices tell you what was wearing but not yet dangerous. This shows how the car was maintained:
❌ Poor Maintenance
- Repeated advisories never fixed
- Issues escalate from advisory to fail
- Multiple failures each year
- Gaps in testing history
✓ Good Maintenance
- Clean MOTs with minimal advisories
- Advisories addressed in next test
- Consistent annual testing
- No recurring problems
3️⃣ Usage History
Mileage patterns reveal how the car was used:
- High annual mileage (20,000+): Likely motorway miles - often better for engines
- Low annual mileage (3,000-): Short trips only - harder on engines, or possibly clocked
- Inconsistent mileage: Changed ownership or usage patterns
📖 Reading Between the Lines
🔎 What Different Patterns Mean
Gap Years: If there's a missing MOT year, the car might have been:
- Off the road (SORN declared)
- Sitting unsold at a dealer
- Exported and reimported
- Under long-term repair (investigate why)
Multiple Test Centers: Could indicate:
- The car moved locations (normal)
- Shopping for passes after failing (suspicious)
- Different owners in different areas
⚠️ Common MOT Failures and What They Mean
🚨 Serious Concerns
- Structural rust/corrosion: Major issue, expensive to fix
- Suspension geometry problems: Could indicate previous damage or wear
- Excessive smoke: Engine wear, potentially expensive
✓ Less Worrying
- Light bulbs: Cheap, easy fix
- Wiper blades: Normal wear item
- Minor tyre wear: Regular maintenance
💼 Using MOT History When Buying
"I saved myself a £15,000 mistake by checking the MOT history. The mileage had been clocked by 40,000 miles! Best 10 minutes I ever spent on a government website."
Check the MOT history BEFORE you even view the car. If there are red flags, save yourself the trip. During viewing, bring a printout and ask the seller about any failures, advisories, or gaps in testing history.
💡 Negotiation Tip
Use MOT history as leverage: current advisories that need attention, upcoming MOT expiry, or patterns of expensive repairs can all justify a lower price.
🔑 MOT Checklist
- Mileage increases consistently with no drops or jumps
- No gaps in annual testing history
- Advisories are addressed in subsequent tests
- No structural issues or recurring major problems
- Current MOT has good time remaining
- Recent tests show the car is well maintained
💡 Get Everything in One Carpeep Report
MOT history is publicly available if you want to check it manually—but why spend time trawling through records when you need to check finance, write-offs, and theft status anyway?
✓ Carpeep Includes It All
Every Carpeep report includes full MOT history alongside finance checks, write-off records, and theft status. We automatically highlight mileage discrepancies so rollbacks are impossible to miss. One report. Everything you need. Instant results.
For the price of a cheap meal, you get comprehensive protection covering every major risk. No jumping between websites. No manual detective work. Just instant peace of mind.
