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Vehicles · DVSA live data

MOT History Checker

Enter any UK registration and we’ll take you straight to the official DVSA MOT history service — free, instant, and goes back to 2005.

Check on DVSA

Enter a registration to generate the lookup link.

What the MOT statuses mean

  • PASS: MOT passed — vehicle is road-legal until the expiry date shown.
  • PASS with advisories: Passed, but the tester noted things to monitor before they become failures.
  • FAIL — major defect: Vehicle cannot be driven until the defect is fixed and it’s retested.
  • FAIL — dangerous defect: Do not drive away. You can be fined £2,500 and get 3 points.
  • Refusal to test: Vehicle couldn’t be tested — usually missing documents or unsafe to drive into the bay.

How we calculated your result

We validate the plate format and link you directly to the DVSA’s free MOT history service. We don’t store or relay your search.

Official UK rules in simple English

  • MOT is required annually once a car is 3 years old (4 years in NI).
  • MOT history is public data published by DVSA.
  • Buying a car? Always check MOT history before handing over money.

Common pitfalls to watch out for

  • ⚠ Recurring advisories

    If the same advisory appears year after year, the seller has been ignoring a problem. Negotiate or walk.

  • ⚠ Mileage gaps

    A jump where the car ”forgot” to do 30k miles for two years is a red flag for a clocked odometer.

  • ⚠ Recent fail then pass

    Check what was fixed. A ”corrosion to chassis” major often comes back.

Frequently asked questions

Is the DVSA service free?
Completely free. Any third-party site charging for MOT history is just re-selling free public data.
What if no history shows?
Cars under 3 years old won’t have an MOT yet. Vehicles imported recently may show partial history.
Does it show service history?
No — MOT history only. Service history must come from the seller or main dealer.

We link to gov.uk — we don’t store registrations. Always verify directly on the DVSA service.

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