MOT history check

What does an MOT history check show?

An MOT history check shows the date and result of every test, the mileage recorded at each one, advisory notices, major and dangerous defects, the reasons for any failures, and when the current MOT expires.

For each test since 2005 you can see:

• The test date and whether it was a pass or fail.
• The mileage recorded at the test — the basis for spotting clocking.
• Advisory notices — items the tester flagged as wearing but not yet a failure.
• Major and dangerous defects and the exact reasons for any failure.
• The expiry date of the current MOT.

Is an MOT history check free?

Yes. MOT history comes from the DVSA and is free to check — CarVerify shows the full MOT history as part of the free car check, with no account needed. Recent tests can take a few days to appear.

Enter a registration and the MOT history is yours to read in seconds. It is the ideal first step before you view a car, and a strong filter before you pay for a full history report.

How to read an MOT history

Advisories are wear items to keep an eye on; major and dangerous defects are failures that had to be fixed. A recurring advisory that is never resolved can be a sign of a neglected car.

Don't panic at a long list — most cars pick up advisories over the years. What matters is the pattern: the same advisory ignored test after test, or a sudden serious failure, tells you more than any single line.

Red flags to look for in an MOT history

Watch for gaps in the MOT record, tests taken far apart with big mileage jumps, or a failure at one garage followed by a quick pass at another — all worth asking about before you buy.

• Gaps in the history — was the car off the road (SORN), and why?
• Mileage that goes backwards or jumps — a sign of possible clocking.
• Repeated dangerous defects — a pattern of neglect or hard use.
• A recent fail-then-pass at a different garage — worth understanding why.

What an MOT history check does NOT show

An MOT history is about roadworthiness and mileage. It does not show outstanding finance, an insurance write-off or a stolen marker — the records that protect your money need a full history check.

A clean MOT history is reassuring, but it says nothing about whether money is owed on the car or whether it has been written off. Add the finance, write-off and stolen checks for the full picture — from £4.99.

How to check a car's MOT history

To check a car's MOT history, enter its registration and review every test, result, advisory and mileage reading in the report.

CarVerify shows the DVSA MOT history free, then the commercial risk data in the same report — so you don't have to piece a car's history together from several sites.

1. Enter the registration into the MOT history check above.
2. Read through each test — result, mileage and advisories.
3. Look for gaps, mileage anomalies and repeated defects.
4. Add the full history check for finance, write-off and stolen data before you buy.