Check any UK vehicle's MOT history
Type in a registration and we'll pull the vehicle's MOT record directly from the DVSA's own database - every pass, fail, advisory and recorded mileage, plus when the next test is due.
What the MOT test actually covers
The MOT is a yearly safety and emissions inspection, required for most UK vehicles from their third birthday onwards. A tester works through a fixed government checklist: brakes, tyres and wheels, steering and suspension, lights and indicators, wipers and washers, mirrors, seatbelts, horn, exhaust and emissions, fuel system, bodywork and structural corrosion, registration plates and the vehicle identification number.
What it does not cover is just as important. The MOT is not a service. It says nothing about the health of your engine, gearbox or clutch, and it is only a snapshot of the day it was carried out. A car can pass its MOT in the morning and develop a fault in the afternoon — which is exactly why the advisory notes in the history below are worth reading closely.
How to read a pass, a fail and an advisory
- Pass — the vehicle met the minimum legal standard on the day of the test and a new certificate was issued, valid for 12 months.
- Minor defect — the car passed, but something is beginning to fail. Fix it soon; it will usually become a major defect at the next test.
- Major defect — an automatic fail. The vehicle must be repaired and retested before it can legally be driven on the road.
- Dangerous defect — the most serious category. The fault presents a direct risk to road safety, and the car should not be driven away from the test centre at all.
- Advisory — not a fail. A note that a component is wearing and will need attention, typically brake pads, tyres close to the 1.6 mm legal limit, light surface corrosion or a slight oil weep.
Using the mileage record to spot a clocked car
Every MOT records the odometer reading, so the history gives you a year-by-year mileage trail going back as far as 2005. The average UK car covers roughly 7,000 to 8,000 miles a year, so use that as your yardstick. A reading that goes down between tests is a red flag for a clocked odometer. A single year with almost no mileage is not automatically suspicious — it may simply have been laid up — but it is worth asking about, along with a long gap between tests, which can indicate the car was off the road or SORN.
Repeated advisories for the same item across several tests tell their own story: it means a known fault was never actually dealt with, just carried forward year after year.
MOT due dates and the rules
A new car is exempt for its first three years, then needs an MOT every 12 months. You can take the test up to one calendar month minus a day before expiry and keep your existing anniversary date, which gives you room to fix any problems without losing cover. Most vehicles built before 1960 are exempt, as are most vehicles over 40 years old that have not been substantially modified.
Driving without a valid MOT risks a fine of up to £1,000, and in practice will invalidate your insurance. The only journeys allowed are to a pre-booked test or to a garage for repairs needed to pass. If your car has failed with a dangerous defect, it cannot legally be driven at all until that fault is fixed.
MOT checker questions, answered
What is an MOT test?
An MOT is an annual roadworthiness and safety inspection required for most vehicles in the UK once they are three years old. It checks items such as brakes, tyres, lights, steering, suspension, seatbelts, emissions and the general structure of the car. It is not a service and it does not guarantee the mechanical condition of the engine or gearbox.
When is my MOT due?
Your MOT is due one year after the date of the last pass certificate. A brand-new car does not need its first MOT until the third anniversary of its registration. You can renew up to one calendar month minus a day before expiry and keep the same anniversary date.
What is the difference between a fail, a major defect and an advisory?
A dangerous or major defect means the vehicle fails the test and must not be driven until it is repaired and retested. A minor defect means the car passes, but the fault should be fixed soon. An advisory is a note that something is wearing out and is likely to need attention before the next test — brake pads, tyres near the legal limit or light corrosion, for example.
Why does the mileage history matter?
Every MOT test records the odometer reading, so the history gives you a year-by-year mileage trail. Steady yearly increases suggest an honest record. A reading that drops, or a suspiciously small jump in one year, can point to a clocked odometer or a period where the car sat unused.
Can I drive without a valid MOT?
No. Driving without a valid MOT can bring a fine of up to £1,000 and invalidates most insurance policies. The only exceptions are driving to a pre-booked MOT test or to a garage for repairs needed to pass.
Where does this MOT data come from?
The results come directly from the DVSA MOT History service — the government's own record of tests carried out at approved test centres in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland vehicles are tested under a separate scheme and are not included.