In short
- A good history makes sense. There is a test every year from the third birthday (England, Scotland and Wales), the mileage rises steadily, and any fail is followed by a pass.
- At age 3, about 1 in 9 MOTs (11.2%) ended in a fail. At age 10 it was about 1 in 4 MOTs (23%). Both count all MOT-tested vehicles, retests included (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025).
- Between ages 3 and 10, the typical reading rises by roughly 6,000 to 8,000 miles a year. That is the rise in the middle reading from one age to the next (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025). A reading that drops, or barely moves, is the first thing to ask about.
- Advisories are the tester’s early warnings. The same one at test after test is worth a question. One that has gone by the next test may have been repaired, and the record can’t show which.
- The record shows what the tester found on the day, not why. Ask the seller for invoices, and read it alongside the service history.
On this page
An MOT history shows each test result, the mileage at each test and the faults the tester found. GOV.UK’s advice to used-car buyers is to read it before you decide[1].
A good one reads like a car that has been used in a normal way. It was tested when it should have been, and problems were followed by repairs. Look for five things.
- A test every year from the third birthday (England, Scotland and Wales), with no long gaps.
- Mileage that rises steadily, by an amount that fits the time between tests.
- Any fail followed by a pass soon after. A quick retest (a second test after a fail) year after year reads differently.
- Advisories that don’t come back unchanged, test after test.
- Faults that suit the car’s age. The table below shows what is usual.
A good history is one clue, not a full check of the car. The MOT looks at the testable items on the day. It does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox[3].
Our guide on how to check a car’s MOT history shows where to find the record and what each line means.
A car needs its first MOT by its third birthday in England, Scotland and Wales, then one a year[2]. A younger car has no MOT history yet. That is normal. Ask for its service record instead.
A test taken up to a month (minus a day) early keeps the same renewal date. So two tests can be less than a year apart[2]. A longer gap has many possible reasons. One is SORN: the keeper has told DVLA the car is kept off the road.
The record shows the dates, not the reason. Treat a gap as a question and ask why. Gaps in an MOT history lists the reasons and how to tell them apart.
Mileage is recorded at every test, and you want to see it rise steadily. There is no single right figure for an age. Between ages 3 and 10, the typical reading rises by roughly 6,000 to 8,000 miles a year. That is the rise in the middle reading from one age to the next (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025). The table in the next section gives the typical mileage at six ages.
- A reading that goes down between tests. It can be a typing slip at the test, a replaced dashboard or a wound-back clock. The record can’t show which. See how to spot mileage clocking.
- A year or more with almost no miles. The car may have stood unused. Ask where it was kept.
- A big jump where the miles suddenly catch up. Ask what the car was used for.
For the full figures by age, see what mileage is normal for a car’s age.
What’s usual to see differs by age: the commonest items at age 3 aren’t the same as at age 12. The table shows real figures for six ages. Use it as background for any car, not as a verdict on the car in front of you.
A fail is not rare at any age. At age 3, about 1 in 9 MOTs (11.2%) ended in a fail, retests included. By age 10 it was about 1 in 4 MOTs (23%), and by age 15 about 3 in 10 MOTs (29.9%). So a fail at age 3 is not unusual. What matters is what failed, and what happened next.
| Age | Tyres | Brakes | Suspension | Lamps and electrical | Driver’s view | Body and structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 40% | 15% | 6% | 14% | 14% | 2% |
| 7 | 24% | 18% | 18% | 14% | 8% | 4% |
| 12 | 12% | 16% | 26% | 21% | 5% | 6% |
| 17 | 9% | 15% | 25% | 22% | 5% | 9% |
| 25 and over | 4% | 18% | 18% | 21% | 6% | 13% |
Share of failure records (faults graded major or dangerous) among each age’s 100 commonest items, on all MOT-tested vehicles in 2025. One car with two bad tyres is two records. Exhaust, steering, wheels, plates and seat belts are left out, so rows do not add to 100%. MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025.
| Age | What is usual |
|---|---|
| Under 3 | No MOT record yet[2]. What to ask about: The service record, and the date the car was first registered. |
| 3 to 5 | Mostly passes, with small wear items: tyres, brake pads, bulbs and wipers. What to ask about: The same tyre advisory at several tests with no new tyre. |
| 6 to 9 | Suspension starts to show. Think bushes and shock absorbers. What to ask about: Rust (the MOT says corrosion) noted early and often. |
| 10 to 14 | More advisories, and a fail on some tests. Suspension is the biggest share of the failures, and lamps and electrical grow. What to ask about: Rust moving from advisory to fail over several tests, or on the brake pipes. Suspension notes with no repair. |
| 15 and over | Rust and ageing rubber parts show more. Passes in most years. What to ask about: Evidence of steady upkeep: invoices, a service record, and what was done after each fail. |
MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025: shares of failure records among each age’s 100 commonest items; all MOT-tested vehicles.
An advisory is a note from the tester about something that may need work soon but has not failed. Testers decide whether to add them[5]. So “no advisories ever” isn’t a gold medal. It can be genuine, and some testers simply note more than others.
Look at what repeats. The same advisory at test after test, with no repair in between, is worth a question. An advisory that has gone by the next test may have been put right. The record can’t show which, so ask for the invoice.
One fail on its own is common at most ages. A dangerous fault, or the same fail coming back, is worth a closer look. Look at what failed and what came next. A fail followed by a pass soon after can mean the repair was done. A fail put right at a quick retest, year after year, reads differently: our risk score counts that pattern a little. Several fails close together, or the same part failing again, are worth asking about.
Our guides on MOT advisories and minor, major and dangerous MOT faults explain each grade.
A low mileage for the age has innocent reasons, such as a second car or short trips. Which? suggests checking the wear on the seats, buttons and steering wheel[6]. Mileage that barely moves for years is worth a question, such as where the car was driven.
Mileage on its own doesn’t tell you a car’s condition. The record and the service history say more.
None of these proves anything on its own. Each is a reason to ask, and to look for proof.
| What you see | What it can mean |
|---|---|
| Rust noted again and again | The MOT judges rust by where it is and what the part does, as well as how much there is[7]. See rust and the MOT. What you could ask: Has it been repaired or treated, and who did the work? |
| The same fault at test after test | It may not have been repaired. What you could ask: What was done about it, and can I see the invoice? |
| Several fails close together | Faults may be coming up in different parts, or in the same one. What you could ask: Which parts failed, and what was repaired each time? |
| A mileage that doesn’t make sense | A typing slip, a replaced dashboard or a wound-back clock. What you could ask: Can you explain the reading at the test on that date? |
| A gap of more than a year | Many innocent reasons, such as a car kept off the road. What you could ask: Was the car off the road, and for how long? |
Take the car’s age, look at the miles, then look at the pattern of faults. A good history is dull in the best way. Tests come regularly, wear suits the age, faults are followed by passes, and mileage rises smoothly.
If the record raises questions, ask the seller and look for proof. An independent inspection can show what the record can’t. Citizens Advice puts an inspection report at around £120 to £250[8].
Next, see what an MOT history can’t tell you, our questions to ask a seller and how to read your risk rating.
Common questions
What is a good MOT history?
One that makes sense for the car’s age. There is a test each year from the third birthday (England, Scotland and Wales), the mileage rises steadily, and any fail is followed by a pass. In Northern Ireland the first test is at four years. Some advisories are normal, especially on an older car.
Is it normal for a car to fail an MOT?
It’s common. In 2025, about 1 in 9 MOTs (11.2%) at age 3 ended in a fail. At age 10 it was about 1 in 4 MOTs (23%). These are MOT Wise figures for all MOT-tested vehicles, retests included, from DVSA’s MOT results. What matters is what failed and what was done afterwards.
How many advisories is normal?
It depends on the age. On the latest MOT of 2025, at least half of vehicles aged 7 had none. At 15 the middle figure was 2. These counts include faults fixed during the test. They cover all MOT-tested vehicles (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025).
How many miles should a car have for its age?
There is no single figure. Between ages 3 and 10, the typical reading rises by roughly 6,000 to 8,000 miles a year. That is the rise in the middle reading from one age to the next. It covers all MOT-tested vehicles (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025). The table on this page shows the typical mileage at six ages.
Does a clean MOT history mean a car is in good condition?
No. The MOT checks the testable items on the day. It does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it is not a service. Read the history alongside the service record and a test drive.
Sources
- Vehicle registration: new and used vehicles. GOV.UK (DVLA).
- Getting an MOT: when to get an MOT. GOV.UK.
- Getting an MOT: the MOT test. GOV.UK.
- Getting an MOT: fix mistakes on your MOT record. GOV.UK.
- Giving the right advice. DVSA, Matters of Testing blog, 2015. An older post, used for the point that advisories are the tester’s choice.
- How to buy the best used car. Which?, 2026.
- MOT inspection manual: Appendix A, Structural integrity and corrosion. DVSA, 2025.
- Buying a used car. Citizens Advice.
