MOT checker FAQ

Enter the registration plate into the MOT checker above. You will see the vehicle’s make, model, colour, fuel type, current MOT status, expiry date, mileage at each test, advisory notices, and any failure reasons recorded by DVSA testers.

Yes. Looking up MOT history, expiry dates, advisories and failures is free. There is no account, no paywall and no limit on personal checks. We built the tool for drivers, buyers and sellers who need a fast answer before they travel or commit to a purchase.

Yes. A UK registration plate is the only detail you need. You do not need the VIN, logbook, MOT certificate number or the keeper’s name. That is why a registration lookup is the standard MOT history checker UK drivers use.

Most cars, vans and motorcycles need an MOT every 12 months once they are three years old. Some specialist vehicles have different rules, and a vehicle can be tested up to one month before the current certificate expires without losing the original expiry date.

Usually no. Driving without a valid MOT can lead to a fine of up to £1,000, invalidate insurance and fail a police stop. The main exception is driving to a pre-booked MOT test, and only if the vehicle is still roadworthy. A dangerous defect found at a previous test means you should not drive the vehicle at all until it is repaired.

An advisory is a defect that is not a fail today but is likely to need attention soon. Advisories do not make the certificate invalid, but they are a warning. Repeated advisories on the same item — especially tyres, brakes, corrosion or leaks — are a strong signal to repair the vehicle before the next test.

A failed MOT means the vehicle has one or more major or dangerous defects. You cannot use a failed certificate as proof of roadworthiness. If the previous MOT is still in date and there are no dangerous defects, you may drive it to be repaired. Dangerous defects must be fixed before the vehicle is driven on public roads.

A new car typically needs its first MOT on the third anniversary of the date it was first registered. Until then it does not have MOT history, even though it still needs to be kept roadworthy and taxed.

Each MOT records the odometer reading. A clean, steadily rising mileage history is one of the simplest ways to spot possible clocking when you buy a used car. Sudden drops, missing years or large unexplained jumps should be treated as a warning and checked against the service book and a vehicle history report.

Yes. MOT test records are public information maintained by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Anyone with a registration plate can look up a vehicle’s MOT history. Personal keeper details are not shown.

When official DVSA credentials are configured, lookups use the MOT History API and reflect newly recorded tests as soon as they are published. In demo mode the tool uses realistic sample records so you can see how the dashboard works before live keys are added.

First re-check the registration. If the plate is correct and a result still looks incomplete, compare it with the paper or digital MOT certificate and the official GOV.UK MOT history service. Test centres can ask DVSA to correct a genuine recording error.

A major defect is a fail that must be repaired, but the vehicle may still be driven if a previous MOT remains valid and the defect is not classed as dangerous. A dangerous defect is an immediate safety risk. The vehicle must not be driven until that defect is repaired.

No. An MOT is a minimum legal safety and environmental standard on the day of the test. It is not a service, not a warranty and not a full mechanical inspection. A car can pass an MOT and still need expensive work shortly afterwards.

Yes. If you retest up to one month before the current expiry date (minus one day), the new certificate can run for up to 13 months from the original expiry. That is why many drivers book in the final month rather than waiting until the certificate has run out.