Free MOT history check
Enter a registration to see every MOT test on record for that car: the result, the mileage at each test, what it failed on and what the tester advised. Free, with no account.
MOT data from the DVSA, published under the Open Government Licence. CarKept is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the DVSA, DVLA, or any government body.
What an MOT history check shows
- Every test result, pass or fail, with the date, going back to the car’s first MOT.
- The mileage at each test, read off the odometer by the tester. Laid end to end, it’s the best free check that the mileage is genuine.
- Failures and defects: what the car failed on, and how serious each fault was.
- Advisories: items the tester noted as wearing or needing attention, even when the car passed.
- The MOT expiry date, so you can see whether the car has a current MOT and when the next one is due.
- The basic vehicle details held with the test record: make, model, colour, fuel type and engine size. If these don’t match the car in front of you, stop and ask why.
How to read an MOT result
Since 20 May 2018, every fault found at an MOT has been given a category. Only dangerous and major faults fail the test. PRS isn’t a category: it marks a fault that was fixed during the test.
| Category | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous | Fail | A direct and immediate risk to road safety, or a serious impact on the environment. Don't drive the car until it's repaired. |
| Major | Fail | May affect the car's safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it straight away. |
| Minor | Pass | No significant effect on safety or the environment. Repair it as soon as possible. |
| Advisory | Pass | Could become more serious in the future. Monitor it and repair it if necessary. |
| PRS | Pass | Pass after rectification at station: a fault was fixed at the test centre within an hour. |
Tests before May 2018 used the older wording: failures were listed as reasons for rejection, alongside advisory notices. For more on reading them over time, see MOT advisories explained.
What to look for in a car's MOT history
Mileage that goes backwards. A reading lower than the one before is the clearest sign of a wound-back or replaced odometer. A long stretch with almost no miles followed by a jump is worth asking about too. See how to check a car’s mileage is genuine.
The same advisory, test after test. Corrosion, an oil leak or worn suspension noted year after year tells you what’s been left alone, and what you might be paying for soon.
Failures on basic wear items. Tyres, wipers, bulbs and brake pads failing an MOT suggest a car that only gets looked at once a year.
Gaps between tests. A missing year can mean the car was off the road on a SORN, or that it was driven without an MOT. Ask which.
Several failures just before a sale. A car that failed and was then passed on cheaply may have had the minimum done to get it through.
When is the MOT due?
A car in Great Britain needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, then every year by the anniversary of its last one. You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. The MOT history check shows the current expiry date. To get an email before it’s due, set up a free MOT reminder. Rules for cars registered in Northern Ireland are different: see nidirect.
What MOT history can't tell you
An MOT is a check of the car’s roadworthiness on one day each year. It doesn’t record servicing, so a clean MOT history says nothing about whether the oil was changed or the cambelt replaced on time. For that you need the service history.
It also doesn’t cover outstanding finance, insurance write-offs or previous keepers. Those come from paid vehicle history checks. See what you can check for free, and what you can’t.
How this check differs from GOV.UK's
The test data is the same: it comes from the DVSA, and you can also read it on GOV.UK’s MOT history service. CarKept sets it out as one timeline, with the mileage on a graph and any drop flagged. Owners can add their service invoices to the same timeline, and ask the garage that did the work to confirm each one, so a buyer sees the servicing alongside the MOTs. Add your car’s service history.
Frequently asked questions
- Is an MOT history check free?
- Yes. MOT results are public information, published by the DVSA. Enter a registration above to see every test on record, with its result, mileage, failures and advisories. You don't need an account.
- How far back does MOT history go?
- Results for cars go back to 2005, and to 2017 for cars tested in Northern Ireland. A car has no MOT history until its first test, which in Great Britain is due by the third anniversary of its registration.
- Can I check the MOT history of a car I don't own?
- Yes. You only need the registration. That's why it's one of the first checks to do on a used car: you can read its full test record before you go to see it.
- What does PRS mean on an MOT?
- Pass after rectification at station. The car failed on at least one item, but the fault was fixed at the test centre within an hour and the car then passed. It shows on the record as a pass, with the repaired items listed.
- Does MOT history show service history?
- No. An MOT is a test of roadworthiness on the day, not a record of servicing. Oil changes, cambelts and other maintenance don't appear in MOT history. The service history has to come from invoices, the service book or the manufacturer's dealer record.
- How do I find out when a car's MOT is due?
- The expiry date of the latest pass is shown with the MOT history. You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date.
See also: MOT pass rates by make and model and what year is my car? Number plate ages.