How to Check MOT History Online — Free and Paid Options

Where to Check MOT History for Free

The DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) maintains the official MOT history database, accessible free at gov.uk/check-mot-history. Enter any UK registration number and you get the full test history from approximately 2005 to the present.

VEHIXA also provides this data free of charge as part of its vehicle check, alongside the DVLA registration data (tax status, engine details, colour). A full VEHIXA report presents the MOT history in a formatted timeline with mileage graph, AI advisory analysis, and integration with finance, stolen, and write-off data.

What the MOT History Shows

For each MOT test, the record includes:

• ✓Test date
• ✓Pass or fail result
• ✓Odometer reading at time of test
• ✓Advisory items (issues noted but not failing)
• ✓Failure items (reasons the car did not pass, if applicable)
• ✓Defect categories: Dangerous, Major, or Minor
• ✓Test station number
• ✓Expiry date of the test (if passed)

Understanding Pass, Fail, and Advisory

Pass

The car met the minimum legal standard at the time of testing. Note that a pass does not mean the car is in excellent condition — only that no failures were found. Advisory items may still be present.

Advisory

Items that are not yet failing but may become so before the next test. Common advisories include tyres approaching the legal minimum tread depth (1.6mm), minor corrosion on bodywork or underside, slightly worn brake pads or discs, and minor fluid leaks. A single advisory is normal. The same advisory appearing on three or four consecutive tests suggests the owner is aware but not maintaining the car.

Fail

From May 2018, failures are categorised as Dangerous (cannot be driven away), Major (must be repaired before re-test), or Minor (recorded but not a failure — these are similar to old-style advisories). Common fail reasons include brake performance below standard, defective lights, worn tyres below 1.6mm, and emissions exceeding limits.

Using Mileage Records to Detect Clocking

Each MOT test records the odometer reading. This creates a verifiable mileage timeline. When reviewing a used car:

• ▸Mileage should increase at every test — a decrease is a near-certain sign of odometer fraud.
• ▸Calculate annual mileage between consecutive tests — large unexplained jumps warrant questions.
• ▸The UK average is around 7,000-8,000 miles per year. Very low mileage (under 3,000/year) on a diesel warrants investigation for DPF issues.
• ▸A long gap between tests (18+ months) may indicate the car was off the road — check for SORN records.

What MOT Gaps Mean

A gap in MOT history — where no test appears for more than 12 months — usually means the car was not being used on public roads. Legitimate reasons include:

• ▸The owner filed a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) — check DVLA records
• ▸The car was undergoing a lengthy restoration or repair
• ▸The car was exported and re-imported
• ▸The car was scrapped and the plates were transferred (rare)

Gaps combined with mileage that appears lower than expected are a strong signal to dig deeper before purchasing.

What VEHIXA Adds to Free MOT Data

The DVSA free check gives you the raw data. A VEHIXA full report goes further: it presents the MOT history as a visual timeline with the mileage plotted at each test, flags any anomalies (mileage drops, recurring advisories, dangerous defects), and integrates the MOT data with finance, stolen, and write-off checks in a single report with an AI-powered risk summary.