Two free GOV.UK services cover it. The DVLA vehicle enquiry service shows tax status and expiry, SORN and MOT expiry from the number plate. The MOT history service adds every test result and recorded mileage since 2005.
Checked 23 October 2026 against the DVSA MOT inspection manual
- Tax and SORN status: DVLA vehicle enquiry service
- MOT results and mileage: GOV.UK MOT history
- Needed: Registration number
- No MOT fine: Up to £1,000
The DVLA vehicle enquiry service
The DVLA vehicle enquiry service is a free GOV.UK tool that returns key details for a vehicle from its registration number alone. No other information is required to run a check. The results show the tax rate and the date the current tax expires, along with any SORN status recorded against the vehicle. The same response includes the MOT expiry date, so tax and test position appear together.
The service also lists the date the vehicle was first registered, the date of the last V5C log book issue and the year of manufacture. Technical details are included: engine size, fuel type, CO2 emissions and Euro status. Export status is shown where a marker has been set, indicating the vehicle has been notified as permanently exported from the UK.
All of this comes from DVLA records and is displayed as held at the time of the enquiry. The service does not show keeper details, insurance status or MOT test history, and it does not confirm that a vehicle is roadworthy. Results reflect the registration number entered, so a check is only as accurate as the mark supplied. The service is free to use and needs no account.
The MOT history service
The free GOV.UK MOT history service requires only the vehicle registration number. It displays each recorded test result, the mileage recorded at the time of each test and the date the next MOT is due. This gives a clear picture of a vehicle's testing record without any fee or account.
MOT history covers cars, motorcycles and vans tested since 2005. HGVs, trailers, buses and coaches are covered from 2018, and Northern Ireland tests are included from 2017. Older records may not appear, so the service reflects only tests held in the database for those periods.
Details of where each test was carried out, for tests in England, Scotland and Wales, require the 11-digit number from the V5C log book. Without that number, the service still shows results, mileage and the next due date, but the testing location remains hidden.
Penalties the checks help avoid
Driving a vehicle without a valid MOT can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. This penalty applies to the use of a vehicle on public roads when no current MOT certificate is in place. Checking MOT status through the free GOV.UK service confirms whether a valid certificate exists, so a vehicle is not used on the road in a way that risks this fine.
An untaxed vehicle without a SORN gets an automatic £80 fine. The penalty is issued where vehicle tax is not in place and no Statutory Off Road Notification has been made. A status check shows whether tax is recorded as valid or whether a SORN is held, helping to avoid the automatic £80 fine that follows when neither is in place.
These checks give a clear picture of a vehicle's recorded tax and MOT position before it is used or left off the road. Confirming both records helps prevent the £1,000 fine for driving without a valid MOT and the automatic £80 fine for an untaxed vehicle without a SORN, keeping the vehicle's status consistent with how it is kept and used.
Frequently asked questions
What information does the DVLA vehicle enquiry service show?
The free DVLA service shows tax rate and expiry, SORN status, MOT expiry, date first registered, date of the last V5C, year of manufacture, engine size, fuel type, CO2 emissions, Euro status and export status.
What is needed to check a vehicle's tax and MOT status?
Only the registration number is needed for the DVLA vehicle enquiry service. The free GOV.UK MOT history service also needs only the registration number.
What does the free GOV.UK MOT history service show?
It shows each test result, the recorded mileage and when the next MOT is due. It covers cars, motorcycles and vans tested since 2005, HGVs, trailers, buses and coaches since 2018, and Northern Ireland tests since 2017.
How can the place of an MOT test be seen?
Seeing where each test was done in England, Scotland and Wales needs the 11 digit number from the V5C log book. The registration number alone does not show the test location.
What penalties apply for an invalid MOT or untaxed vehicle?
Driving a vehicle without a valid MOT can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. An untaxed vehicle without a SORN gets an automatic £80 fine.
