Official DVSA Data

Free MOT history
check for any UK car

See every MOT test, every pass, every fail, and every advisory — instantly from official DVSA records. No account, no payment, no catch.

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Full MOT history
Official DVSA data
Every pass & fail
All advisories listed
Mileage timeline

What does an MOT history check show you?

When you run a free MOT history check on regadvisor.co.uk, you get the complete record of every MOT test the vehicle has ever taken — pulled directly from the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) database. This is the same data that garages and MOT testing stations use.

For each test you'll see the date, result (pass or fail), the mileage recorded at the time, the test location, and a full breakdown of any defects noted. Nothing is hidden or paywalled.

Test result
Pass or fail for every test ever taken on the vehicle
Mileage history
Odometer reading recorded at each test — spot clocking instantly
Defects & advisories
Every item noted — dangerous, major, minor, and advisories
Test dates
Full timeline so you can see how regularly the car was tested

Understanding MOT defect types

When an MOT tester finds a problem, they categorise it by severity. Knowing the difference matters — especially when you're looking at a car's history and deciding whether past failures are a concern.

Type What it means Should you worry?
Dangerous An immediate risk to road safety or the environment. Car failed and must not be driven. Yes — especially if it keeps appearing. Structural or brake failures are serious red flags on a used car.
Major Likely to affect safety or the environment. Car failed and the issue must be fixed. Worth investigating. Check if the same major item fails repeatedly — that suggests chronic problems.
Minor No significant effect on safety but must be fixed before next MOT. Low concern. Normal wear items — bulbs, wiper blades, minor trim issues.
Advisory Not bad enough to fail — but the tester is flagging it for monitoring. Pay close attention. Advisories on items like brake discs, tyres or suspension mounts that appear test after test are telling you the car has ongoing issues.

Tip: A car with lots of advisories isn't necessarily a bad car — but advisories that appear on two or more consecutive tests, especially on mechanical items, are a strong signal that maintenance has been neglected. Our MOT history view colour-codes these so they stand out immediately.

How to spot a clocked car using MOT history

Mileage fraud — or "clocking" — is one of the most common forms of used car fraud in the UK. Sellers wind back the odometer to make a high-mileage car appear lower mileage and charge more for it.

MOT history is one of the best free tools for catching this. Every time a car goes for an MOT, the mileage is recorded. If the mileage goes down between tests, the car has almost certainly been clocked.

Our mileage chart shows every recorded reading plotted over time, so you can see the trajectory at a glance. A straight upward line is healthy. Any dip or flat section followed by a jump deserves serious scrutiny.

How far back does MOT history go?

The DVSA's digital MOT records go back to 2005 for most vehicles. Some older records may be incomplete as not all garages had digital systems in the early years of the scheme. For very old or classic cars you may see fewer historical entries, but any car regularly tested from 2010 onwards will have a detailed record.

Cars under 3 years old are exempt from MOT testing, so if you're looking at a relatively new vehicle you may see no history at all — that's normal and doesn't indicate anything negative.

Is a free MOT check the same as a full vehicle history check?

No — and it's worth being clear about what a free MOT history check covers and what it doesn't.

An MOT history check tells you about the car's technical condition over time: whether it passed its tests, what defects were found, and whether the mileage is consistent.

It does not tell you whether the car has outstanding finance on it, whether it's been written off in an accident, whether it's been reported stolen, or how many previous owners it's had. Those require a separate paid check from providers like HPI or Experian.

regadvisor.co.uk gives you everything from the free DVLA and DVSA datasets — MOT history, tax status, basic vehicle data — all in one place with no account needed.

AI-powered guidance — what does it actually do?

regadvisor.co.uk doesn't just show you raw data — it uses AI to interpret what the history means for that specific car. Once you run a check, you get a plain-English analysis generated specifically for the make, model, year, and MOT history of the vehicle you looked up.

Model-specific insight
Not generic advice — guidance tailored to known issues for that exact engine and variant
MOT history interpreted
The AI reads the actual test results and flags patterns a human might miss across years of records
Shopping mode
Switch to "I'm Shopping" and get a buyer's checklist — what to inspect, what to ask the seller, and similar alternatives to consider
Cost of ownership
Estimated running costs — insurance group, real-world MPG, tyre costs, and known expensive components for that variant

How to get the best from it: If you know the trim or variant — for example "GTD", "M Sport", "VXR" — enter it in the optional variant field before searching. The AI will use it to give much more specific advice than the registration alone provides.

The AI guidance is generated by Claude (Anthropic) and is based on general knowledge of the make and model. It should be used as a starting point for your own research, not as a substitute for a professional inspection.

When should you always check MOT history?

Before buying any used car

This should be non-negotiable. Five minutes checking the MOT history can reveal a car that's been failing on brakes repeatedly, has suspiciously low mileage, or hasn't been tested in years. It's free — there's no reason not to.

When a seller claims low mileage

Cross-reference the seller's claimed mileage against the MOT records. If they're telling you the car has 40,000 miles but the last MOT recorded 62,000 miles, you have a problem.

When buying privately

Private sales offer less legal protection than buying from a dealer. A thorough MOT history check is one of the few free tools you have to protect yourself.

For classic or older cars

Older vehicles can have complex histories. MOT records help you understand whether the car has been regularly maintained and used, or has sat unused for years.

Frequently asked questions

Is the MOT history check really free?
Yes, completely. The DVSA makes this data available for free and regadvisor.co.uk passes it to you at no cost. No account, no payment details, no trial period.
How current is the MOT data?
The data comes directly from the DVSA and is updated regularly. In practice, a new MOT result typically appears within 24–48 hours of the test being completed.
Can I check MOT history for any UK vehicle?
Yes — any vehicle registered in the UK that has been subject to MOT testing. This includes cars, motorcycles, vans, and most light commercial vehicles. Vehicles under 3 years old, historic vehicles over 40 years old, and some specialist vehicles are exempt from MOT testing and may return no history.
What if a car shows no MOT history?
There are several reasons this can happen: the vehicle may be under 3 years old and not yet required to have an MOT, it may be a historic vehicle exempt from testing, or it may have been registered but never tested (potentially SORN'd). It could also indicate the car has been recently imported. Always investigate further if you're buying a car with no MOT history and you'd expect there to be one.
Does a car with MOT failures mean it's a bad buy?
Not necessarily. Most cars fail an MOT at some point — often for minor, easily fixed reasons. What matters is the pattern. Repeated failures on the same item, failures for expensive repairs, or dangerous failures are more meaningful than an isolated minor failure that was fixed immediately.

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