Can I check my car's history for free?

Partly. The MOT history — every test since 2005 with its result, failure reasons, advisories and recorded mileage — is free by registration, as are the car's tax and MOT status and any open safety recalls. Outstanding finance, write-off status and stolen-vehicle markers generally need a paid check.

How do I check if a car's mileage is genuine?

Look at the mileage recorded at each MOT test, free on GOV.UK. A reading lower than the one before, or one that barely moves for years and then jumps, is worth asking about. Compare it with the mileage on service invoices too.

Does the MOT history show services?

No. It shows MOT tests: the date, pass or fail, reasons for failure, advisories and the mileage at each test. Advisories and the mileage trail can hint at how a car was looked after, but servicing itself isn't recorded there.

How to check a car’s history for free

“Car history” means different things depending on who’s asking. An owner checking their own car usually wants the MOT history or the service record. A buyer wants to know nothing is hidden: mileage, finance, write-offs. Some of that is free, some isn’t, and some doesn’t exist in one place at all. Here’s what you can check, and where.

MOT history: free, and the most useful single check

The DVSA records every MOT test. By registration, you can see each test since 2005 for cars: the date, whether it passed or failed, why it failed, any advisories, and the mileage recorded. The official service is Check the MOT history of a vehicle on GOV.UK. CarKept’s free MOT history check uses the same MOT data and sets it out as a timeline alongside the recorded mileage.

What to look for: mileage that goes down between tests or barely moves for years; the same advisory repeated test after test without being fixed; and failures on items that suggest neglect rather than wear — brakes, tyres and suspension flagged over and over. The MOT advisories guide covers how to read them.

Tax, MOT status and vehicle details: free

DVLA’s vehicle enquiry service on GOV.UK shows the car’s tax status and expiry, when its MOT expires, and basic details like colour and year of manufacture. Worth checking that these match what you’ve been told and what’s on the V5C.

Safety recalls: free

You can check whether a vehicle has been recalled on GOV.UK. An open recall is usually fixed free by a franchised dealer, and whether it’s been done is worth asking about.

Mileage history: free, from the MOT record

Every MOT records the odometer reading, so the MOT history doubles as a mileage history from the car’s first test. Readings should rise steadily. One that’s lower than the test before is the classic sign of a clocked or replaced odometer; a long stretch of almost no mileage can be innocent but is worth asking about. CarKept’s free vehicle pages plot the MOT mileage on a graph and flag any test where the reading went down. Service invoices usually state the mileage too, so they give you extra readings between tests to check against. More in how to check a car’s mileage is genuine.

Service history: not in one place

There’s no free government lookup for servicing. Dealer servicing is often held on the manufacturer’s system, but work by other garages usually isn’t anywhere central, so the rest comes from the invoices. The guide to checking a car’s service history covers where to look.

Finance, write-offs and theft: usually paid

Whether a car has outstanding finance, has been recorded as an insurance write-off or is marked as stolen isn’t in the free government services above. Paid vehicle history checks from specialist providers cover these, and if you’re buying, one is worth doing. CarKept doesn’t offer finance, write-off or stolen-vehicle checks.

Checking your own car

If it’s your car, the most useful thing the free checks can do is show you what a buyer will see later. The MOT history will be there regardless. The service history will only be there if you’ve kept it — see how to keep your service history. You can also get a free reminder before the MOT is due.

Check your car's history

Free MOT history, recorded mileage and advisories for any UK car — then add the service history only you have.

Have service invoices? Upload and keep them with your car’s history →

Frequently asked questions

Can I check my car's history for free?: Partly. The MOT history — every test since 2005 with its result, failure reasons, advisories and recorded mileage — is free by registration, as are the car's tax and MOT status and any open safety recalls. Outstanding finance, write-off status and stolen-vehicle markers generally need a paid check.
How do I check if a car's mileage is genuine?: Look at the mileage recorded at each MOT test, free on GOV.UK. A reading lower than the one before, or one that barely moves for years and then jumps, is worth asking about. Compare it with the mileage on service invoices too.
Does the MOT history show services?: No. It shows MOT tests: the date, pass or fail, reasons for failure, advisories and the mileage at each test. Advisories and the mileage trail can hint at how a car was looked after, but servicing itself isn't recorded there.

CarKept is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the DVSA, DVLA, or any government body.