Buying
How to check a car's MOT history in the UK (free, in 60 seconds)
Every MOT test since 2005 is on public record. Here is how to read a car's full MOT history, what the advisories really mean, and the red flags that should stop a purchase.
A car's MOT history is the closest thing the UK has to a free service record. It is public, it goes back to 2005, and it takes less than a minute to read. If you only do one check before buying a used car, do this one.
What the MOT history shows
Every MOT test carried out in England, Scotland and Wales is logged by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). For each test you can see:
- The date and result — pass, fail, or pass with advisories.
- The recorded mileage at every test, which lets you spot clocking.
- Every failure item, with the tester's wording.
- Every advisory — a fault that is not yet a failure but is on its way.
- The MOT expiry date, so you know how long the current certificate lasts.
Northern Ireland runs its own MOT scheme, so history for NI-registered cars is not on the GB service.
How to check it
- Go to the official GOV.UK service, Check the MOT history of a vehicle.
- Enter the registration number. No login, no fee.
- Open each test to read the failure and advisory notes.
Motofly shows the same DVSA data on every listing, so on a Motofly car you can read the full history without leaving the page.
How to read it like a mechanic
Mileage that goes backwards. If a 2019 test shows 68,000 miles and the 2021 test shows 61,000, the odometer has been tampered with or a tester made a typo. Either way, ask questions and check the V5C and service invoices.
Long gaps between tests. A car that had no MOT for 18 months was either off the road (SORN), abroad, or driven illegally. Ask which.
Repeat advisories. "Tyre worn close to legal limit" three years running means the owner ignores maintenance. A car that has had advisories cleared between tests is usually a car that has been looked after.
Corrosion advisories. Notes such as "underside corroded but not seriously weakened" are worth taking seriously on cars over ten years old. Corrosion only gets worse and structural rust is expensive.
Fail then pass on the same day. This is normal. The garage found a fault, fixed it and retested. Read what failed: a bulb is nothing; "brake pipe excessively corroded" tells you more about the car's life.
What the MOT does not tell you
- Whether the car has outstanding finance or has been written off. That needs a separate history check.
- Service history. Oil changes and cambelts are not part of the MOT.
- Anything in the first three years. New cars do not need an MOT until their third birthday, so a 2024 car will have no history yet.
Red flags that should stop the purchase
- Mileage inconsistencies without a clear explanation.
- Structural corrosion advisories on a car being sold as "solid".
- A "dangerous" defect recorded on the most recent test with no evidence it was fixed.
- A seller who will not give you the registration before you view the car.
Quick checklist
| Check | Where |
|---|---|
| MOT history and mileage | GOV.UK MOT history, or the listing page on Motofly |
| Tax and MOT status | GOV.UK vehicle enquiry, or the badges on a Motofly listing |
| Outstanding finance, write-off, stolen | A paid vehicle history check |
| Service history | Ask the seller for stamps and invoices |
Read the used car buying checklist next, then browse used cars with the MOT history already on the page.