Checking MOT History Before Buying a Used Car

What the MOT history shows a buyer

The GOV.UK MOT history service is free to use and requires only the vehicle registration number. It lists past test results, the mileage recorded at each test and the date the next MOT is due. For tests carried out in England, Scotland and Wales, it also shows where each test was done and which parts failed or were recorded as minor problems. Depending on the manufacturer, it may also show outstanding safety recalls.

Coverage depends on vehicle type. Cars, motorcycles and vans are covered for tests since 2005. HGVs, trailers, buses and coaches are covered for tests since 2018. Northern Ireland tests are covered since 2017. A buyer checking an older vehicle may therefore find only part of its testing record, and the earliest years of a long history may not appear at all.

To see where each test was carried out, the 11 digit number from the vehicle's V5C log book is needed. Without that number, the service still shows results, mileage and the next due date, but not the location of each test.

Reading the history before buying

Each test result on the GOV.UK MOT history service records minor defects and advisories alongside passes and fails. Minor defects have no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment, and a vehicle with only minor defects passes and gets a certificate. Recording minor defects is mandatory. An advisory is used when an item is not deteriorated enough to justify a fail, to inform the presenter, and advisories do not cause a fail. All of these are stored in the MOT database, so a pattern of recurring advisories on the same component is visible across years.

Fails and retests show how a vehicle was brought back to standard. A fail followed by a pass within days suggests the listed defects were addressed, while a fail with no recorded retest before the next annual test raises a question about what happened in between. For tests in England, Scotland and Wales, the service also shows where the test was done and which parts failed or had minor problems, which helps place each result in context.

Mileage that drops between tests is a warning sign to question. As an illustrative example, a car showing 68,000 miles at one test and 54,000 at the next has an unexplained reduction. The service is free and needs only the registration number, and it may show safety recalls depending on the manufacturer. A discrepancy of this kind merits scrutiny of the paperwork before any purchase.

Frequently asked questions

What does an advisory on an MOT record mean?

An advisory is used when an item is not deteriorated enough to justify a fail, to inform the presenter. Advisories do not cause a fail. Results, including minor problems and advisories, are recorded in the MOT database.

How far back does MOT history go?

MOT history covers cars, motorcycles and vans tested since 2005. HGVs, trailers, buses and coaches are covered since 2018, and Northern Ireland tests since 2017.

What does the free GOV.UK MOT history service show?

The GOV.UK MOT history service is free and needs only the registration number. It shows past results, recorded mileage and when the next MOT is due. For tests in England, Scotland and Wales it also shows where the test was done and which parts failed or had minor problems. It may show safety recalls, depending on the manufacturer.

What is a minor defect on an MOT?

Minor defects have no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment. A vehicle with only minor defects passes and gets a certificate. Recording minor defects is mandatory.

How can the test location be seen in MOT history?

To see where each test was done, the 11 digit number from the vehicle's V5C log book is needed.