MOT History Check

The MOT history of a vehicle is one of the most reliable, tamper-proof records available to a car buyer. Unlike a service history — which depends on stamp-collecting from garages — MOT records are held directly by the DVLA and cannot be altered or removed by sellers.

A thorough MOT history check reveals far more than just pass or fail. Failure reasons tell you what parts of the car have been found deficient. Advisory notices show items that were borderline — often things the previous owner chose not to fix. Mileage records at every test allow you to build an accurate picture of how the car has been driven over its lifetime and whether the current odometer reading is plausible.

Advisories deserve particular attention. They are issues identified during testing that weren't severe enough to cause a failure, but which indicate wear or deterioration. A car with the same advisory appearing across multiple years — such as "brake pad wear" or "tyre condition" — suggests a pattern of deferred maintenance that you will likely have to address yourself after purchase.

Our check displays the complete DVLA record for any UK-registered vehicle, going back to 2005, completely free of charge. Enter the registration number above to see the full history instantly.