Free MOT History Check
Enter a registration to see every MOT this vehicle has ever had - the results, the advisories, the mileage at each test, and exactly when the current certificate runs out.
Enter a registration to start
Why check a vehicle's MOT history?
A clean car and a confident seller tell you very little. The MOT history is the one record of the vehicle that nobody involved in the sale wrote, and it goes back to the car's third birthday.
What it shows is the pattern. One failure means nothing much. The same corroded brake pipe advised three years running, then suddenly absent, usually means it was patched rather than replaced. Tyres advised as close to the limit at every test suggest a car that gets fixed only when it has to be.
The recorded mileage is the other half. It is written down at every test, by the garage, and it is the simplest way to catch a car whose odometer has been wound back between owners. Read how to spot a clocked car.
Worth knowing
An MOT is a snapshot of one morning. It is not a warranty, and a pass does not mean nothing is wrong - it means nothing tested was wrong enough to fail on that day. Read it alongside a proper inspection.
What the report shows
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Every test result
Pass, fail, and whether it passed with advisories - grouped by year, newest first.
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Mileage at each test
The odometer reading the garage recorded, with the change since the previous test.
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Reasons for failure
The exact defects, split into dangerous, major and minor.
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Advisories
Faults that did not fail the test but were flagged to the owner.
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Expiry and status
When the current MOT runs out, and whether it has already.
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Running cost estimate
Fuel cost per mile based on engine size, fuel type and current pump prices.
Curious how a make compares? See MOT pass rates by make.
Running a car costs more than the MOT
Our sister site findpetrol.co.uk tracks pump prices at over 7,000 UK forecourts, updated through the day. Worth a look before your next fill-up.
MOT check questions
Is the MOT history check really free?
Yes, and there is no sign-up. MOTindex reads the official DVSA MOT history record and shows you everything it holds for that vehicle. You can check as many registrations as you like.
What is the difference between a minor, major and dangerous fault?
A minor fault does not fail the test but is worth fixing before it gets worse. A major fault fails the test and must be repaired and retested. A dangerous fault also fails, and means the vehicle should not be driven on the road until it is put right.
How can I spot a clocked car from the MOT history?
Read the mileage at each test in order. It should only ever go up, and by a broadly sensible amount each year. A reading that drops, or a year where the mileage barely moves and then jumps, is worth asking the seller about. MOTindex shows the difference between consecutive tests so this is easy to see.
How soon does a new MOT test appear?
Usually within a few working days. The garage submits the result to the DVSA at the end of the test, and the public record follows shortly after. If a test was done today it may not be there yet.
Does this show road tax, insurance or the V5C?
No. The MOT history record covers testing only. It does not contain tax status, CO2 emissions, insurance or V5C details, so MOTindex does not invent them. Each report links to the DVLA and Motor Insurance Database checkers for those.
Which vehicles are covered?
Cars, vans, motorcycles and other vehicles registered in Great Britain that are old enough to need an MOT. Vehicles under three years old have no test history yet, and Northern Ireland is tested separately by the DVA so its records may be incomplete.