Every MOT since 2005
MOT history check
Enter a registration to see every MOT the car has had since 2005: the date, result and mileage, each fail and advisory in plain English, and when the next MOT is due.
Free · in seconds
Enter any UK registration
No sign-up. No card. MOT records back to 2005.
How to read it
What an MOT history tells you about a car
The average car fails 28.4% of its first MOT tests. One fail isn't a worry; a pattern is. Look for the same fault coming back year after year, a long list of advisories at the last test, or a gap with no MOT at all.
Since May 2018, defects come in four grades. Dangerous and major faults fail the test. Minor faults pass but are recorded. Advisories are things the tester noticed that will need work soon.
| Category | Result | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous | Fail | Unsafe to drive until fixed |
| Major | Fail | Must be repaired and retested |
| Minor | Pass | Fix it soon; it's on the record |
| Advisory | Pass | Coming up: price it in |
What fails most
The most common MOT failures in the UK
From 104.9 million MOT tests (2022 to 2024), the areas that fail most often are lights and electrics (9.9% of tests), suspension (7.9%), brakes (5.9%) and tyres (5.5%).
See any model's own record in car reliability by make and model.
MOT basics
When is an MOT due?
- A car needs its first MOT three years after it was first registered, then every year.
- You can take the MOT up to a month (less a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date.
- Driving without a valid MOT can bring a fine of up to £1,000, unless you're driving to a booked test.
- The most a test centre can charge for a car MOT is £54.85.
Questions
MOT history check questions
How do I check a car's MOT history?
Enter its registration above. You'll see every test since 2005 with the result, mileage, fails and advisories.
How far back does MOT history go?
Computerised MOT records start in 2005 in Great Britain. Older paper certificates aren't online.
What's the difference between a fail and an advisory?
A fail (major or dangerous) means the car didn't pass until it was fixed. An advisory passed, but the tester saw a part wearing out.
Why doesn't a new car have an MOT history?
Cars don't need an MOT until they're three years old, so a newer car's history lives in its finance, keeper and write-off records instead.
Keep checking
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