The MOT Files

Check any UK vehicle’s MOT history

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Quick answer

An MOT check shows a UK vehicle’s full test history from official DVSA records — every pass and failure since 2005, the exact defects and advisories the tester recorded, the mileage at each test, and when the current MOT runs out. It is free, needs only the registration number, and works for any vehicle whether you own it or not.

The record, explained

More than a pass or fail.

See every recorded MOT, spot unusual changes in mileage, and understand what advisories could mean before you buy or repair a car.

  1. 01

    Current status

    The expiry date and remaining days, immediately.

  2. 02

    Mileage pattern

    Every reading plotted, with suspicious drops flagged.

  3. 03

    Defects decoded

    Plain-English meaning and realistic repair cost bands.

Straight from the record

Free, fast and no account required

MOT records are attributed to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. We add interpretation, never hide the underlying history, and do not ask for an email address.

Other ways to check

Whatever you need to know

Free tools

Stay ahead of the next test

  • Pre-MOT checklist — 28 checks you can do yourself in half an hour. Print it, or get one built from your own car’s last advisories.
  • Your garage — keep every vehicle in one place with MOT countdowns and your own notes. No account needed.
  • Calendar reminders — add any MOT expiry date to your own calendar from its result page, with a prompt a month before.

Browse by car

Pass rates by make

How often each marque passes first time, and the failures its models record most. Built from 33.1 million MOT tests, not opinion.

All 74 makes and 854 models

From the files

Two studies from 33 million tests

  • Which cars pass their MOT

    Every model with enough data, ranked after adjusting for age and mileage — so a new car is not praised for being new.

  • What actually predicts a pass

    Age, mileage, engine size, region, colour and month of test. Two of those matter. Two barely move the rate at all.

Also: electric cars, your first MOT, how long parts last.

Learn the rules

Guides to the MOT

What gets checked, what the grades mean, what repairs cost, and how to read a car’s history before you buy it.

Read the guides

Look it up

Symbols, codes and failure reasons

Three reference libraries for when something has already gone wrong: the light on your dashboard, the code behind it, and the wording on a failure certificate.

  • Dashboard warning lights

    Every symbol, what it means, whether you can drive, and which ones fail an MOT.

  • Fault code lookup

    Search every standard OBD-II code by number or symptom, with the lamp each one turns on.

  • MOT failure reasons

    Plain English for every defect a tester can record, and what it takes to put right.

Common questions

How do I check a car's MOT history?
Enter the registration number and the full history appears immediately. No account, payment or personal details are needed, and it works for any UK-registered vehicle whether or not you own it. The data comes straight from DVSA's published MOT records.
Is checking an MOT free?
Yes. MOT history is published by DVSA under the Open Government Licence, so it is free to access and free to look up here. Anyone charging you for MOT history alone is selling you public data.
How far back does MOT history go?
Records cover tests carried out in Great Britain from 2005, and Northern Ireland from 2017. Tests before those dates were not recorded digitally and are not available from any source, so an older car will simply have a shorter history.
Can I check the MOT of a car I do not own?
Yes, and that is what makes it useful when buying. The registration number is all you need, and the seller cannot edit or hide any of it. The record contains no personal data about past or present keepers.
What does an MOT check not tell you?
It does not show outstanding finance, insurance write-off category, or whether a vehicle has been reported stolen, all of which need a separate paid check. It also cannot show work done between tests, so a service history is still worth asking for.
Does a valid MOT mean the car is in good condition?
No. An MOT is a snapshot of minimum roadworthiness on the day of the test, not a mechanical warranty. A car can pass in the morning and develop a serious fault that afternoon, and the test deliberately excludes the engine, clutch and gearbox.