Free MOT History Check
See whether a car’s MOT is valid, when it runs out and every test it has had.
Checking
- Finding vehicle
- Checking MOT & mileage
- Checking ULEZ & recalls
- Building Basic Car Report
Official DVLA and DVSA records
- Free, no account needed
- Official DVSA MOT records
- Cars, vans and motorcycles
What a free MOT history check shows
Straight from DVSA records, in the free Basic Car Report.
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MOT status and expiry
Whether the MOT is valid or expired, the date it runs out, and a warning when that is less than 30 days away.
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Every MOT test
Each recorded test with its date, result and mileage, and a count of passes, failures and advisories.
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Advisories and failures
The tester’s notes for each test: dangerous and major failures, minor defects, advisories and anything repaired during the test.
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Mileage at every test
The odometer reading from each MOT, charted over time, so a drop or a stalled reading is easy to spot.
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Model MOT facts
Where there is enough data, the model’s first-time pass rate and its most common failure area.
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The rest of the report
Tax and SORN status, ULEZ status, safety recalls, car details and emissions, in the same free report.
MOT advisories and failures explained
Since May 2018, every defect a tester finds goes into one of four categories. Two fail the test and two don’t.
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Dangerous
FailA direct and immediate risk to road safety, or a serious impact on the environment. The car should not be driven until it is repaired.
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Major
FailCould affect the car’s safety, put other road users at risk or harm the environment. It must be repaired and retested.
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Minor
PassNo significant effect on safety or the environment. The car passes, but the defect is recorded and should be fixed soon.
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Advisory
PassStill within the legal limit but could get worse. The car passes, and the item is noted for you to keep an eye on.
What to look for in a car’s MOT history
One test tells you very little. Read across several years, MOT history shows what kept coming back.
- Repeated advisories
- The same advisory year after year, such as tyres, brake pipes or suspension bushes, suggests it was noted and left.
- Repeated failures on one system
- Failures on brakes, suspension or emissions that keep coming back can point to a fault that was patched rather than fixed.
- Mileage that doesn’t add up
- Readings should rise steadily. A drop, or a stretch with very few miles, is worth asking the seller about.
- Long gaps between tests
- Often the car was SORN or off the road, but a gap leaves fewer readings to check its condition and mileage against.
What MOT history can’t tell you
An MOT is a snapshot of the car on test day. It won’t show accident damage that was repaired without failing a test, and it can’t show outstanding finance, write-off history or whether the car is recorded as stolen.
Those are all in the Full History Report.
MOT history check FAQs
Is the MOT history check free?
Yes. It costs nothing and you don’t need an account or card details. The full MOT history is in the free Basic Car Report.
Can I check the MOT history of a vehicle I don’t own?
Yes. MOT history is public, so all you need is the registration. You don’t need the logbook (V5C) or the owner’s permission.
How do I check if a car’s MOT is valid?
Enter the car’s registration at the top of this page. The Basic Car Report shows whether the MOT is valid, the date it runs out, and a warning when that is less than 30 days away.
What’s the difference between MOT status and MOT history?
MOT status is whether the MOT is valid today and when it runs out. MOT history is every recorded test, with its result, mileage, failures and advisories. This check shows both.
Can I see MOT advisories and failures?
Yes. Every recorded test lists the tester’s advisories, minor defects, and dangerous or major failures as they were written, plus anything repaired during the test.
Where does the MOT history information come from?
From the DVSA’s official MOT records, the same data behind GOV.UK’s MOT history service. The tester logs every MOT there as it is done.
How far back does MOT history go?
MOT history is generally available from 2005 onwards, when MOT records became digital. Older cars may have a shorter history than their age suggests.
What does no MOT history mean?
No MOT tests are recorded for that registration. Usually the car is under three years old and doesn’t need an MOT yet. It can also mean the car was recently imported or has been off the road.
How often does a car need an MOT?
A car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, then one every year. You can take the test up to a month (minus a day) before the current MOT runs out and keep the same renewal date.
How much does an MOT cost?
The government sets a maximum fee: £54.85 for a car and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle. Many garages charge less, and any repairs needed to pass cost extra.
Check a car’s MOT for free
Its MOT status, expiry date and full test history, in seconds.
- No payment or account
- Official DVSA MOT records
- Upgrade to the Full History Report any time