In short
- You can check any car’s MOT history for free on GOV.UK, with just its number plate[1].
- For cars, the record goes back to 2005. It shows each result, the mileage and what the tester found[2].
- You don’t need the V5C logbook to see the results. Its reference number only shows where each test was done[1].
- Read it as a story. The mileage, faults that come back and gaps between tests tell you more than any single pass.
- A pass means the car met the legal standard on the day. It isn’t a full check of its condition[3].
On this page
The MOT is the yearly check that a car is safe and fit for the road. Every result is held by DVSA, the government agency that runs the MOT. Anyone can look a car up on GOV.UK for free[1].
Get the number plate
Take it from the advert or the car itself. When you see the car, check the plate matches the V5C logbook (the registration document).
Open the GOV.UK service
Go to Check the MOT history of a vehicle and enter the plate. It’s free[1].
Make sure it’s the right car
The make and model on the record should match the car you’re looking at. If they don’t, ask the seller why before going further.
Read each test, newest first
Note the date, the result, the mileage and any items listed. The sections below explain what each grade means.
Save a certificate if you need one
For tests in England, Scotland and Wales, you can download current and earlier certificates[2].
On the MOT history
- The date and result of each test
- The mileage at each test
- The parts that failed, and minor faults
- When the next MOT is due
- Sometimes, a safety recall, depending on the maker[1]
Not on it
- Service history and repair bills
- How many owners it has had
- Outstanding finance, or an insurance write-off
- Whether it has been reported stolen
- The engine, clutch and gearbox, which the MOT doesn’t test[4]
Finance, write-offs and theft need a separate check. Our guide to what an MOT history can’t tell you covers where to find them.
For cars, the record covers tests since 2005. Tests in Northern Ireland are shown only from 2017, and without certificates[2]. They show the result and the mileage, but not the faults.
A car’s first MOT is due by its third birthday in England, Scotland and Wales[5], and its fourth in Northern Ireland[6]. So a younger car won’t have any MOT records yet. That’s normal.
Since 20 May 2018, testers have put each fault into one of three grades: dangerous, major or minor[7]. They can also add advisories, as they could before. Dangerous and major faults fail the MOT. Minor faults and advisories don’t.
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| DangerousResult: Fail | A direct risk to road safety. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed. |
| MajorResult: Fail | A fault that could affect safety or the environment. It needs repairing straight away. |
| MinorResult: Pass | A fault with little effect on safety. The car passes, but it should be fixed soon. |
| AdvisoryResult: Pass | Something the tester noticed that may need work soon. Worth keeping an eye on. |
The three grades used since 20 May 2018, and advisories[7]. Driving a car that failed on a dangerous fault can bring a fine of up to £2,500, a ban and 3 penalty points[8]. These figures are as of 10 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
So a pass can still list minor faults and advisories[8]. They show what the tester noticed on the day. There’s more on each grade in minor, major and dangerous MOT faults explained.
One result tells you little. The pattern across several years tells you much more. Tick these off as you read.
Reading an MOT history
0 of 6 done
A mileage that drops, or barely moves, is the first thing to clear up. Our guide on how to spot mileage clocking shows what to look for.
Tests less than a year apart can be normal. An MOT taken up to a month (minus a day) early keeps the same renewal date[5]. Longer gaps have many possible reasons, from a car kept off the road to one tested in Northern Ireland before 2017. See gaps in an MOT history.
- 0
- advisories is typical at 7 years old. At least half of vehicles had none at their latest MOT.
- Advisories on each vehicle’s latest MOT of 2025, faults fixed during the test included. MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025.
- 2
- advisories is typical at 15 years old. Three in four had three or fewer.
- Same measure, vehicles 15 years old.
So a few advisories on an older vehicle are common, and that includes cars (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025). The count can’t tell you what they are about, so read each one. Tyres, brakes and suspension are among the commonest.
The same advisory at test after test is worth a question. Was it repaired, or just left? Our guide to MOT advisories explains what each common one means.
Ask the seller first. A mistyped mileage at a test does happen, and it can be put right.
Within 28 days of a test, the test centre can correct the mileage. After that, it can be reported to DVSA online, with evidence of the right reading dated within a day of the test[9].
Common questions
Is checking a car's MOT history free?
Yes. The GOV.UK service is free and only needs the number plate. MOT Wise is free too, and explains each result in plain English.
Do I need the V5C logbook to check MOT history?
No. The number plate is enough to see the results. The reference number from the V5C is only needed to see where each test was done.
How far back does MOT history go?
For cars, to 2005. Tests in Northern Ireland are shown from 2017, without certificates and without the faults. A car under three years old won’t have had an MOT yet.
Does MOT history show if a car has been written off?
No. The MOT record doesn’t cover insurance write-offs, outstanding finance or whether a car is stolen. Those need a separate vehicle history check.
Can two MOTs be less than a year apart?
Yes. An MOT can be taken up to a month (minus a day) early. The renewal date stays the same. So test dates can shift a little from year to year.
Sources
- Check the MOT history of a vehicle. GOV.UK (DVSA).
- Check the MOT history of a vehicle: exemptions and conditions. GOV.UK (DVSA).
- MOT testing guide for test stations: introduction. DVSA, 2026.
- Car parts checked at an MOT. DVSA, 2015.
- Getting an MOT: when to get an MOT. GOV.UK.
- How the MOT scheme works. NI Direct.
- MOT changes: 20 May 2018. DVSA and DfT, 2018.
- Getting an MOT: MOT test result. GOV.UK.
- Getting an MOT: fix mistakes on your MOT record. GOV.UK.
- MOT fraudsters handed suspended sentences for untested vehicles. DVSA, 2026.
