Buyer guides
Read the car before you decide
Plain-English guides to MOT history, faults and the costs of a used car. Every one lists its sources, and many use our own reading of the MOT results.
Buying a used carHow to check MOT historyCheck a car's MOT history for free, step by step. What pass, fail and advisory mean, and six things to look for in the record.6 min read
What the data showsMOT failure rate by ageHow the MOT failure rate changes as cars age, from 3 to 25 years old. 2025 figures, what fails at each age, and what a rate can't tell you about one car.11 min readBuying a used car
Checking a car before you decide: the record, the seller, the drive and your rights.
Buying a used carAverage mileage by car ageThe middle mileage reading at each age for all MOT-tested vehicles in 2025, plus the official miles a year. What high and low mileage can mean.9 min read
Buying a used carCar recall checkHow to do a car recall check on GOV.UK, who pays for the fix, and what the MOT record says about recalls.6 min read
Buying a used carGaps in MOT historyGaps in MOT history have many possible reasons, from SORN to the 2020 extension. See how to tell them apart and what to ask the seller.8 min readBuying a used carHow to check MOT historyCheck a car's MOT history for free, step by step. What pass, fail and advisory mean, and six things to look for in the record.6 min read
Buying a used carRisk ratingHow to read your MOT Wise risk rating, from Very Low to Very High. What each level means, what drives the score, and what it can’t tell you.6 min read
Buying a used carMileage clockingHow to spot mileage clocking using MOT history. The warning signs, what normal mileage looks like, what the law says and what to do next.10 min read
Buying a used carMOT vs service historyNot sure of the difference between MOT and service history? One is a legal check on the day, the other is upkeep. Here’s how to read both together.7 min read
Buying a used carQuestions to ask a sellerThe questions to ask a used car seller before and at the viewing, why each one matters, and what a straight answer sounds like.8 min read
Buying a used carBuying checklistA step-by-step used car buying checklist for the UK. What to check before you view, at the viewing and after, beyond the MOT history.8 min read
Buying a used carTest drive checklistA used car test drive checklist: insurance, cold start, warning lights, steering, brakes, gears and noises, and what each can mean.9 min read
Buying a used carGood MOT historyWhat a good MOT history looks like at each age. Real figures for fails, mileage and advisories, and the patterns that deserve a question.9 min read
Buying a used carWhat MOT history can't tell youMOT check vs HPI check: the free MOT record leaves out finance, write-offs and theft. See what each check covers and where to find the rest.8 min read
Buying a used carUsed car rightsWhat the law gives you if a used car goes wrong: the 30 days, the six months and after, for dealers, private sellers and auctions. General information only.11 min readMOT basics
How the MOT works: when it’s due, what it costs, retests and advisories.
MOT basicsDriving without an MOTCan you drive without an MOT? Only to a pre-booked test or to a repair. The fine is up to £1,000 (as of 10 October 2026). What buyers need to know.7 min read
MOT basicsHow much an MOT costsHow much does an MOT cost? The most a test centre can charge for a car is £54.85 (as of 10 October 2026). Retest costs, and what else you may pay for.6 min read
MOT basicsMOT advisoriesWhat an MOT advisory means, whether you must fix it, and how to read advisories on a used car's record.10 min read
MOT basicsMOT checklistA simple MOT checklist: lights, tyres, wipers, plates and warning lights, plus what fails most and what to do about a problem.13 min read
MOT basicsMOT retest rulesMOT retest rules: when a retest is free, when you may pay half, and when you need a full test again. Plus what it means on a used car.7 min read
MOT basicsFirst MOT and exemptionsWhen does a car need its first MOT? By the third anniversary of its registration in England, Scotland and Wales. Plus who is exempt.9 min readFaults and repairs
The parts that fail most often, what the tester looks for, and what to check yourself.
Faults and repairsMOT faultsThe MOT’s minor, major and dangerous grades explained for a buyer reading a car’s record. What each means, and what to ask about it.5 min read
Faults and repairsMost common MOT failuresThe most common MOT failures by area and by age. Which ones are mostly recorded as advisories, and what tyres, brakes and suspension cost to put right.6 min read
Faults and repairsBrakes and the MOTThe MOT brake test in plain English: what is checked, what fails, and what brake notes on a used car’s record mean.11 min read
Faults and repairsSuspension and the MOTWhat counts as an MOT suspension failure: springs, shock absorbers, ball joints and bushes, how common each is, and what to check on a car's record.11 min read
Faults and repairsTyres and the MOTMOT tyre rules in plain English: the 1.6 mm limit, what fails, what doesn’t, and how to check a used car’s tyres.10 min read
Faults and repairsLights and the MOTWhich warning lights and bulbs fail an MOT: engine, ABS, airbag and tyre pressure lights, headlamps, brake lights and number plate lamps explained.11 min read
Faults and repairsRust and the MOTWill rust fail an MOT? It depends on where it is and how much metal is left. Sills, subframes, brake pipes, hidden rust and what to check.12 min readFuel and running costs
Fuel types, clean air zones and road tax on a used car.
Fuel and running costsDiesel MOT testHow the diesel MOT test works: the smoke test, particulate filters (DPFs), warning lights, and how often diesel cars fail, from our data.11 min read
Fuel and running costsElectric and hybrid cars and the MOTYes, electric and hybrid cars need an MOT. What is the same, what is not tested (the battery), and what MOT results show about electric and hybrid cars.11 min read
Fuel and running costsULEZ and clean air zonesIs a used car ULEZ compliant? The standards, how to check a number plate, and which other English cities and Scottish zones charge or fine.8 min read
Fuel and running costsRoad tax on a used carRoad tax doesn’t pass to you with a used car. How to tax it, what you’ll pay by registration date, and the expensive car supplement.10 min readWhat the data shows
What millions of MOT results show about cars as they age.
What the data showsHow long cars lastHow long do cars last in the UK? See how many cars stay registered, how many sit off the road (SORN), and what that means for an older car.14 min readWhat the data showsMOT failure rate by ageHow the MOT failure rate changes as cars age, from 3 to 25 years old. 2025 figures, what fails at each age, and what a rate can't tell you about one car.11 min read
What the data showsMOT faults that come in pairsWhich areas of a car are recorded together most often at the MOT, by age, and what that means when you’re buying a used car.5 min readLooking for one model? Our car pages show how hundreds of models do at their MOT. For one car, check its number plate.
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Enter a number plate to see what its MOT history shows: faults, patterns, mileage trends and a plain-English risk rating.
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