How to Check MOT History Online: Complete Guide

Learn how to check MOT history for free in the UK, what it reveals about a car's condition, and how to use this information to make smart buying decisions.

By Car Buying Guide UK26 October 20256 min read

Checking MOT history is free, takes 2 minutes, and reveals crucial information about any car. Here's how to use this powerful tool effectively.

What is an MOT?

MOT (Ministry of Transport) Test:

Annual safety and emissions test
Required for cars over 3 years old
Tests roadworthiness, not reliability
Pass required to legally drive
Records stored in government database

What It Tests:

Lights and signals
Brakes
Tyres
Steering and suspension
Exhaust emissions
Body condition (rust)
Windscreen and wipers
Seats and seatbelts
Registration plates

What It Doesn't Test:

Engine condition
Clutch
Gearbox
Interior wear
Cosmetic damage

How to Check MOT History (Free)

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Visit: gov.uk/check-mot-history

2. You Need:

Vehicle registration number (number plate)
No login required
Completely free

3. Information Shown:

All MOT tests since 2005
Pass/fail results
Test dates
Mileage at each test
Failure reasons
Advisory items
Dangerous/major/minor defects
Next MOT due date

Understanding the Results

Test Result:

PASS: Met minimum safety standards
FAIL: Failed one or more items, cannot be driven
ADVISORY: Passed but issues noted for future attention

Defect Categories (Since 2018):

Dangerous: Immediate risk, cannot drive
Major: MOT fail, affects safety significantly
Minor: Advisory, monitor for future

What MOT History Reveals

1. Mileage Verification (Most Important)

Check Mileage Progression:

Example 1: Consistent (Good)

2019: 28,000 miles
2020: 35,000 miles (+7,000)
2021: 42,000 miles (+7,000)
2022: 49,000 miles (+7,000)
2023: 56,000 miles (+7,000)
✅ Consistent annual mileage, likely genuine

Example 2: Clocked (Red Flag)

2019: 68,000 miles
2020: 82,000 miles (+14,000)
2021: 97,000 miles (+15,000)
2022: 45,000 miles (-52,000) ❌ CLOCKED
2023: 51,000 miles (+6,000)
⚠️ Car's true mileage is 100,000+

What to Calculate:

Average miles per year
Any decreases in mileage
Large jumps followed by low figures
Missing years (clocked during gap?)

2. Maintenance Quality

Good Maintenance Indicators:

Mostly passes
Few failures
Advisories addressed in following year
Regular testing (not months overdue)
Minor issues only

Poor Maintenance Indicators:

Multiple failures each year
Same advisory items every year (never fixed)
Tests done months late
Serious safety issues (brakes, tyres)
Neglected problems

Example: Well Maintained

2021 PASS: Advisory - slight oil leak
2022 PASS: No advisories (leak fixed)
2023 PASS: Advisory - brake pads wearing

Example: Neglected

2021 FAIL: Brakes, tyres, exhaust
2022 FAIL: Brakes, rust, lights
2023 FAIL: Steering, brakes, exhaust

3. Recurring Problems

What to Look For:

Same component failing repeatedly
Same advisory every year
Pattern of issues

Example:

2020: Advisory - slight engine oil leak
2021: Advisory - engine oil leak
2022: Fail - excessive engine oil leak
⚠️ Underlying engine problem

Common Patterns:

Oil leaks (engine seals failing)
Exhaust rust (terminal, needs replacement)
Suspension knocks (bushes, joints wearing)
Brake issues (expensive maintenance coming)

4. Accident Indicators

Suspicious Patterns:

Major bodywork failures suddenly appearing
Multiple lights broken at once
Steering/suspension damage
Structural rust mentioned

Example:

2020 PASS: No issues
2021 FAIL: Multiple damaged lights, suspension damage, body corrosion
⚠️ Likely accident between 2020-2021

5. Test Frequency

Regular Testing:

Tested annually (or close)
Shows responsible ownership

Late Testing:

Consistently months late
Indicates neglect
Possible SORN periods (off-road)

Missing Years:

Car wasn't tested (SORN? Exported? Hidden?)
Opportunity for clocking
Investigate why

6. First MOT Quality

At 3 Years Old:

Should pass easily
Few/no advisories = well maintained
Multiple failures = mistreated

Red Flag:

First MOT (car at 3 years old) has major failures
Indicates poor treatment from new
Expect problems to escalate

How to Analyze MOT History

Step 1: Check Mileage

Calculate Annual Mileage:

Subtract previous year from current
Average: 10,000-12,000 miles/year
Low: Under 5,000/year
High: Over 20,000/year

Red Flags:

Mileage decreases
Huge variations (5k, 5k, 30k, 5k)
Recently increased (clocked then being driven)

Step 2: Review Failures

Count Failures:

0-1 failures over 5 years = good
2-3 failures = acceptable
4+ failures = concerning

Severity:

Minor items (bulbs, wipers) = acceptable
Major items (brakes, steering) = concerning
Repeated failures = red flag

Step 3: Track Advisories

Look For:

Same advisory multiple years (never fixed)
Escalating advisories (slight → moderate → fail)
Expensive items flagged (suspension, brakes)

Example Timeline:

2020: Advisory - brake pads wearing
2021: Advisory - brake discs worn
2022: Fail - insufficient braking
⚠️ Neglected maintenance, expect other issues

Step 4: Compare to Advert

Check Claims:

Seller says "always serviced" but multiple fails = lie
"Low mileage" but 15k/year average = not low
"Perfect condition" but consistent fails = false

Use As Negotiation:

Highlight recurring issues
Mention upcoming expenses
Request price reduction

What Good MOT History Looks Like

Example: 2016 Honda Civic

2019 MOT (3 years old, 32,000 miles):

PASS
No advisories
✅ Excellent

2020 MOT (4 years old, 42,000 miles):

PASS
Advisory: Brake pads wearing
✅ Normal wear, flagged appropriately

2021 MOT (5 years old, 51,000 miles):

PASS
No advisories (brake pads replaced)
✅ Maintenance addressed

2022 MOT (6 years old, 60,500 miles):

PASS
Advisory: Slight oil leak from rocker cover
✅ Minor age-related issue

2023 MOT (7 years old, 70,000 miles):

PASS
Advisory: Tyres wearing (4mm tread)
✅ Appropriate for mileage

Analysis:

Consistent 10,000 miles/year
Well maintained (advisories addressed)
Normal age-related wear only
This is a good car

What Bad MOT History Looks Like

Example: 2015 Vauxhall Astra

2018 MOT (3 years old, 45,000 miles):

FAIL: Tyres illegal, brake pads worn, exhaust corroded
Retested 2 months later: PASS
⚠️ Neglected from new

2019 MOT (4 years old, 62,000 miles):

FAIL: Suspension worn, oil leak, lights not working
Retested 3 weeks later: PASS
⚠️ Consistent neglect

2020 MOT (5 years old, 98,000 miles):

FAIL: Excessive rust, brake efficiency poor, tyres illegal
Retested 6 weeks later: PASS
⚠️ High mileage, poorly maintained

2021 (no MOT on record)

⚠️ Off road? Or clocked?

2022 MOT (7 years old, 55,000 miles):

FAIL: Steering, suspension, brakes
⚠️ CLOCKED (was 98k, now 55k!)

Analysis:

Consistently failed MOTs
Neglected maintenance
CLOCKED by 43,000 miles
Multiple safety issues
Avoid this car

Using MOT History When Buying

Before Viewing

Screen Cars:

Check MOT before wasting time viewing
Eliminate clocked cars
Identify problematic vehicles

Questions to Prepare:

"Why did it fail MOT in 2021?"
"Has the oil leak been fixed?"
"Mileage shows as 95k in 2022, can you explain?"

During Viewing

Print MOT History:

Bring printed copy
Reference specific issues
Ask seller to explain
Watch their reaction

Negotiate:

"MOT shows brake advisories, I'll need to replace them (£300). Can you reduce price?"
Use documented issues as leverage

Red Flags to Walk Away

Immediate Deal Breakers:

Mileage decreased
Consistent major failures
Seller can't explain MOT issues
Missing MOT years
Recent major structural rust

Combine with Other Checks

MOT History Shows:

✅ Mileage verification
✅ Test/failure history
✅ Basic condition snapshot
✅ Maintenance quality

MOT History Doesn't Show:

❌ Outstanding finance
❌ Stolen status
❌ Write-off history
❌ Multiple database checks

Always Do:

MOT history check (free)
DVLA vehicle enquiry (free)
HPI/comprehensive vehicle check (£20)
Physical inspection
Test drive

Common Mistakes

Don't:

Skip MOT check (it's free!)
Ignore mileage discrepancies
Dismiss "minor" advisories (they escalate)
Trust seller's explanation without verification
Assume pass = good condition
Forget to check missing years

Do:

Check every car, no exceptions
Calculate mileage progression
Research common failures for that model
Ask seller about specific failures
Use information to negotiate
Combine with paid vehicle check

MOT Myths Debunked

Myth 1: "MOT pass means car is in good condition"

Reality: Only means roadworthy at that moment. Engine, gearbox, clutch not tested.

Myth 2: "Advisories don't matter"

Reality: Advisories become failures. Track progression.

Myth 3: "One fail isn't concerning"

Reality: Depends what failed. Brakes, steering = very concerning.

Myth 4: "High mileage is bad"

Reality: High mileage with clean MOT history often better than low mileage with failures (shows proper use and maintenance).

Myth 5: "Private MOT tests can be faked"

Reality: MOT tests are computerized, uploaded to government database. Very difficult to fake (though possible with corrupt testers).

Quick Reference Checklist

Before buying, check MOT history and verify:

Summary

MOT History is Essential:

Free tool
2 minutes to check
Reveals critical information
Primary clocking detection method

What It Tells You:

Actual mileage history
Maintenance quality
Recurring problems
Accident indicators
Owner care level

How to Use:

Check before viewing
Calculate mileage progression
Identify patterns
Question seller about issues
Negotiate based on findings
Walk away if clocked or neglected

Most Important:

Always check (no exceptions)
Focus on mileage consistency
Identify patterns not isolated issues
Combine with comprehensive vehicle check

The Bottom Line: MOT history is your free early warning system. Use it. Every time. No exceptions. It takes 2 minutes and could save you thousands.

A clean MOT history doesn't guarantee a perfect car, but a problematic MOT history almost always indicates a car to avoid.