MOT history is a free official record on GOV.UK of every test result, the mileage at each test and any failures or minor problems. Service history is kept by the owner and garages, so the government guide tells buyers to ask the seller for it separately.
Checked 23 October 2026 against the DVSA MOT inspection manual
- MOT history: Official, free on GOV.UK
- Service history: From the seller
- MOT records from: 2005
- Certificates: Downloadable (GB tests)
What MOT history contains
The official MOT history record shows each pass or fail for a vehicle, the recorded mileage at the time of each test, and when the next MOT is due. Depending on the manufacturer, recall information may also appear. This gives a dated sequence of tests that can be checked against the vehicle's age and use.
For tests carried out in England, Scotland and Wales, the record also shows where each test was done, which parts failed and any minor problems noted. Current and previous certificates can be downloaded from the service, providing documentary evidence of the vehicle's test outcomes over time.
MOT history covers cars, motorcycles and vans tested since 2005. It covers HGVs, trailers, buses and coaches tested since 2018, and Northern Ireland tests since 2017. The scope therefore varies by vehicle type and location, and older records may not be available for every vehicle.
What service history is
Service history is the record of the scheduled maintenance a vehicle has received over its life. It typically covers routine work such as oil and filter changes, inspections and replacements carried out at set intervals by a garage or by the owner. The entries build a picture of how regularly the car has been looked after between MOT tests, which only check minimum roadworthiness standards at a single point in time.
The record usually comes from the servicing garage or dealer, which stamps or annotates the service book and may supply invoices for parts and labour. The government consumer guide tells buyers to ask the seller for the full service history, separate from any MOT checks.
What the history shows depends on its completeness. A fully stamped book with matching invoices indicates work was done at the specified intervals. Gaps, missing receipts or entries that cannot be verified weaken the record. The guide treats the service history as information to request from the seller, while MOT history is checked independently on GOV.UK for vehicles over 3 years old. The two records are separate and neither replaces the other.
Using both together
A car's first MOT is due by the third anniversary of its registration, so a newer car may have no MOT history yet. In that case the service record is the only documentary evidence of the vehicle's past. A buyer reading both sources starts with what each one can show at that point in the car's life, rather than treating an absent MOT record as a fault in itself.
Where an MOT history exists, the recorded mileage at each test can be compared with service records from the seller. The two sets of dates and distances sit alongside each other, allowing a buyer to see whether the mileage rises consistently across both. Gaps or mismatches between the two are visible on the face of the documents.
The comparison works in both directions. Service records show work carried out between tests, while MOT records show the mileage and test outcomes at fixed points. Read together, they give a buyer a dated sequence of mileage and maintenance that neither document provides alone. The value lies in the overlap, where the same period is covered by both.
Frequently asked questions
What does MOT history show for each test?
MOT history shows each pass or fail, the recorded mileage, when the next MOT is due, and possibly recall information depending on the manufacturer. For tests in England, Scotland and Wales it also shows where each test was done, which parts failed and any minor problems.
Can MOT certificates be downloaded from the MOT history service?
Yes. For tests in England, Scotland and Wales, current and previous certificates can be downloaded from the MOT history service. The record also shows where each test was done, which parts failed and any minor problems recorded at the time.
Which vehicles and dates does MOT history cover?
MOT history covers cars, motorcycles and vans tested since 2005, HGVs, trailers, buses and coaches since 2018, and Northern Ireland tests since 2017. The government consumer guide tells buyers to check MOT history on GOV.UK for vehicles over 3 years old.
Why might a newer car have no MOT history?
A car's first MOT is due by the third anniversary of its registration, so a newer car may have no MOT history yet. The government consumer guide separately tells buyers to ask the seller for the full service history, which covers work done before any MOT.
How can service records and MOT mileage be used together?
Recorded mileage at each MOT can be compared with service records from the seller. The MOT history gives test dates, pass or fail results and mileage, while the service history supplied by the seller shows maintenance work, so the two records can be checked against each other.
