How to check a car's MOT history for free

MOT history is public, and it's free

Every MOT test taken in Great Britain is recorded by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), and the results are public. That means you can see the complete test history of any car, van or motorcycle using nothing but the registration number: every pass, every failure, every advisory and the mileage recorded at each test. You don't need the V5C logbook, the owner's permission or an account anywhere.

To run a check, enter the registration on our free MOT check and the full history appears in seconds.

How to read the results

Each MOT test in the history shows a handful of things worth understanding:

• Result:pass or fail. A failure isn't automatically bad news; what matters is what failed and whether the same faults keep coming back.
• Defects: graded as dangerous(an immediate fail; the vehicle shouldn't be driven until fixed), major (a fail that must be repaired), and minor (noted but not a fail).
• Advisories: faults that passed the test but are wearing out, such as brake pads, tyres or light corrosion. Advisories are the single best early-warning system a buyer has: an advisory that appears year after year has never been fixed.
• Mileage: the odometer reading at the time of the test. Readings should climb steadily; any drop is a red flag for clocking.

Warning signs to look for before buying

• Repeated failures for the same component. This suggests a chronic problem or bodged repairs.
• Corrosion advisories on structural parts: rust on subframes, sills or suspension mounts gets expensive fast.
• Long gaps between tests. The car may have been off the road (why?) or driven without a valid MOT.
• A test just before the sale with a suspiciously clean sheet. Compare with the previous year's advisories; wear items don't fix themselves.
• Mileage that drops or barely moves: see our guide to spotting a clocked car.

When is an MOT needed?

A vehicle needs its first MOT three years after it is first registered, and a new test every 12 months after that. You can have the test done up to a month (minus a day) before the current certificate expires and keep the same renewal date. Most vehicles over 40 years old that haven't been substantially changed are exempt, though many owners still test them voluntarily.

Driving without a valid MOT risks a fine of up to £1,000, and if the vehicle is found dangerous, up to £2,500 and penalty points. It usually invalidates insurance too.

What MOT history can't tell you

MOT records only start at the vehicle's first test, so a car under three years old has no history yet. The record also won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs or theft markers. Those need a separate paid provenance check. For everything the free data does cover, work through our used car buying checklist.