Free MOT Check by Registration
Quick answer
Enter a registration to see whether the vehicle currently has a valid MOT and when it expires, taken from official DVSA records. The same free check lists every MOT test on record with its result, the defects and advisories recorded at each one, and the mileage at each test — plus the vehicle's tax status. No account is needed.
Check the actual vehicle
Check a vehicle's MOT
Enter the registration for its MOT status, expiry date and full test history, with advisories, failures and mileage. Free, instant and no account needed.
Free: vehicle identity, tax/SORN, MOT history, mileage and buyer red flags.
Full history: adds outstanding finance, stolen, insurance write-off and other paid provenance checks.
The full report is optional. Review the free official record first if you are unsure. Payment is completed securely on the next screen.
MotorMkt reads the DVSA MOT record and the DVLA vehicle record and shows them together, so you can check MOT and tax in one go.
- Current MOT status and expiry date
- Every MOT test on record, in date order, with its result
- The defects that caused each failure, and the advisories recorded at each test
- Mileage recorded at each test, and any drop or implausible jump between them
- Tax status and tax due date from DVLA
- Recurring advisory patterns, flagged rather than left for you to spot
Start with patterns rather than counting advisories. A single long list that was fixed straight away matters less than the same fault coming back year after year.
- Mileage should normally rise between tests — a drop or a stall needs explaining
- The same advisory repeated across tests suggests deferred maintenance
- Corrosion advisories that escalate in wording are worth an inspection
- A long gap between tests suggests time off the road; ask why
- A fail followed quickly by a pass shows the work was done
- Test locations changing every year is normal; it is not a warning sign
Since May 2018 defects are recorded in categories. Only major and dangerous defects cause a failure — a car can pass with minor defects and advisories listed against it.
| Category | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous | Fail | A direct and immediate risk to road safety or the environment. The car should not be driven away. |
| Major | Fail | May affect safety, put other road users at risk or harm the environment. It must be repaired and retested. |
| Minor | Pass | No significant effect on safety or the environment, but recorded on the certificate. Repair it soon. |
| Advisory | Pass | Something that will likely become a defect later, such as a tyre near the limit. Budget for it. |
Check the actual vehicle
Check a vehicle's MOT
Enter the registration for its MOT status, expiry date and full test history, with advisories, failures and mileage. Free, instant and no account needed.
Free: vehicle identity, tax/SORN, MOT history, mileage and buyer red flags.
Full history: adds outstanding finance, stolen, insurance write-off and other paid provenance checks.
The full report is optional. Review the free official record first if you are unsure. Payment is completed securely on the next screen.
Most cars need their first MOT by the third anniversary of registration, then a test every year. A few vehicle types must be tested at one year old.
A test can be done up to a month minus a day before the current one expires while keeping the same renewal date, so an MOT expiring in June can be done from early May without losing the remaining cover.
- Vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago are usually exempt, if no substantial changes have been made
- An exempt vehicle must still be kept roadworthy — exemption is not permission to neglect it
- An MOT is not a service and does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox
Only to a pre-arranged MOT test or to a garage for repairs. Driving otherwise can bring a fine of up to £1,000, and driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition can mean a £2,500 fine and three penalty points. Insurance can also be affected.
If you are buying a car with no MOT, arrange the test or transport before you agree to collect it, and price in whatever the test finds.
DVSA holds results for cars, motorcycles and vans from 2005, and Northern Ireland tests from 2017. Anything before that is not in the record, so an older car with a short history is not necessarily suspicious.
MotorMkt shows every test the official source returns. Where a vehicle is too new for a first MOT, there is nothing to show yet — that is normal for a car under three years old.
An MOT records the condition on one day against a minimum standard. It is not a mechanical warranty and says nothing about the car's paperwork: outstanding finance, an insurance write-off record, a stolen marker or a mileage discrepancy the tests did not capture.
The free check gives you the official MOT and tax record. The optional Full History Check adds finance, write-off, stolen and plate-change checks for the same registration.
- Can I check a car's MOT for free?
- Yes. Enter the registration and MotorMkt returns the current DVSA MOT status, expiry date and full test history without an account.
- How do I check when an MOT expires?
- The free check shows the expiry date next to the MOT status, alongside the tax due date.
- Can I check an MOT without the V5C?
- Yes. The registration alone is enough to retrieve the available DVSA MOT record.
- How far back does MOT history go?
- DVSA publishes car, motorcycle and van results from 2005, and Northern Ireland results from 2017. MotorMkt shows every test the official source returns.
- What is an MOT advisory?
- A note about something likely to need attention before long, such as a tyre close to the legal limit. Advisories do not cause a failure.
- What is the difference between a minor defect and an advisory?
- A minor defect already exists but is not serious enough to fail the test. An advisory warns that a part will probably become defective soon. Both appear on a pass.
- Can I drive a car without an MOT?
- Only to a pre-arranged MOT test or to a garage for repairs. Otherwise you can be fined up to £1,000.
- When does a car need its first MOT?
- Most cars need one by the third anniversary of registration, then every year after that. Some vehicle types are tested from one year old.
- Which cars are exempt from an MOT?
- Vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago are usually exempt, provided no substantial changes have been made. They must still be kept roadworthy.
- Can MOT history show a clocked car?
- It can reveal a recorded mileage drop or an implausible jump, which is strong evidence worth investigating. Recording errors and unit changes are possible, so confirm before accusing a seller.
- Does an MOT pass mean a used car is safe to buy?
- No. It records the outcome of one test on one date against a minimum standard, and does not replace an inspection, a test drive or a provenance check.
Check the actual vehicle
Check a vehicle's MOT
Enter the registration for its MOT status, expiry date and full test history, with advisories, failures and mileage. Free, instant and no account needed.
Free: vehicle identity, tax/SORN, MOT history, mileage and buyer red flags.
Full history: adds outstanding finance, stolen, insurance write-off and other paid provenance checks.
The full report is optional. Review the free official record first if you are unsure. Payment is completed securely on the next screen.