Free MOT status check
Check the MOT status and history of your car with our FREE MOT check.
How our free MOT check tool works
Our free MOT checker retrieves recorded MOT history data to show key information about a vehicle’s status and history.
Here’s a quick explainer on how it works:
- To begin your free MOT check, simply enter your vehicle’s registration number into the tool above. No sign-up is required.
- Our tool will then retrieve the relevant information from the DVLA’s records.
- Using this data, our MOT check tool will instantly compile a useful report on your vehicle’s MOT status, notes, and history.
How to check when my MOT is due
The easiest way to check when your MOT is next due for renewal is to enter your reg number into our free MOT check tool.
You can also retrieve this information using the DVLA’s MOT history check tool.
Why check the MOT history of your vehicle?
Checking your vehicle’s MOT history tells you much more than its current MOT expiry date.
It also shows you a comprehensive record of past results, highlighting passes, failures, defects, and advisories. This information could help you:
- Plan future maintenance by keeping track of critical and advisory faults.
- Keep track of your mileage increases over time and spot any recording discrepancies.
What does our MOT check include?
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Current MOT status
Find out whether your car currently has a valid MOT certificate. If it does, this means it was roadworthy on the day it was tested.
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MOT due date
Our instant MOT check report will show the date when your MOT certificate is due for renewal. If your last MOT has expired, the car cannot legally be driven.
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Past MOT dates and results
Our MOT check tool uses DVLA data to show the dates and recorded results from previous MOT tests for your chosen vehicle.
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Reasons for failure
If your car has failed an MOT test, this will be noted in the report, along with the reason for failure.
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Advisories
The report will include notes on issues that aren’t serious enough to fail an MOT but could worsen over time if not fixed.
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Road tax status
Our report will confirm your current car tax status, MOT due date, and car tax emissions band.
Key considerations when using an MOT checker
Update delays
- New MOT result data is usually available within 24 hours of completion.
- Some online sources indicate that results appear once the garage has uploaded the test results, which usually occurs within a few hours.
- In some cases, it may take up to five days for the MOT expiry date to update after a vehicle is tested.
- However, the DVLA’s database is typically updated promptly, so the expiry date will often change almost immediately.
- If an incorrect expiry date persists, this could be due to a delayed system update, an administrative error, or an issue with the MOT testing station submitting the data.
- If the issue has not been resolved for a few days, we recommend contacting the testing station.
Regional differences with MOT data
- In England, Scotland, and Wales, you can see test results for all MOTs taken since 2005 for cars, motorcycles, and vans.
- However, in Northern Ireland, you can only retrieve results for tests since 2017.
- Older MOT records won’t be available online. Prior records rely on paperwork, so you'd need to retrieve the physical certificate - or request a replacement from the garage that carried out the test.
Frequently asked questions
To find out whether your car has a valid MOT, enter its reg number into webuyanycar’s MOT check tool.
If your car doesn’t have a valid MOT, it cannot legally be driven, except:
- To an MOT testing centre for a re-test.
- To a garage, for essential MOT repairs.
Your car cannot be driven at all if the last MOT test highlighted any ‘dangerous faults’.
A car’s MOT history is the official record of MOT test results throughout its lifetime. This includes the dates of each test, whether it passed or failed, and any defects or advisories noted.
Please note: Many newer cars will not yet have an MOT history, as annual MOT testing only becomes compulsory once a vehicle reaches three years of age.
An MOT certificate is valid for one year from the test date.
Enter your registration into webuyanycar’s MOT check tool to find out when your current MOT expires.
If you have failed your MOT, you can continue to drive your vehicle as long as:
- Your previous MOT certificate is still in date.
- No ‘dangerous’ faults were highlighted during the failed test.
- If you do continue to drive after a failed MOT, the vehicle must still meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness.
If you are caught driving with a dangerous fault, you could be fined up to £2,500 and incur three penalty points on your licence – or even a driving ban.
Yes, you can drive your car until midnight on the date of expiry.
After this time, you cannot drive the vehicle unless you are driving directly to an approved MOT test centre for a pre-booked appointment, or to a garage for necessary repairs.
Remember, if your car has any ‘dangerous’ faults, it cannot be driven at all.
If your car has not yet been MOT tested (which is common for vehicles under three years old), there will be no MOT data to report.
Additionally, if your car has recently been MOT tested for the first time, it may take up to five days for the DVLA’s records to update.
Certain vehicles are eligible for MOT exemption, including:
- Vehicles under three years old: Annual MOT tests are only mandatory after the three-year mark.
- Classic cars over 40 years old: Many cars over 40 years old are also eligible for classic car tax exemption. However, this is not automatic, you must apply via the DVLA website.
During an MOT test, the mechanic will carry out a range of checks including:
- Electrical equipment.
- Steering.
- Tyres.
- Suspension.
- Brakes.
- Seat belts and seats.
- Exhausts and emissions.
- The mirrors, wipers, and windscreen.
- Clean the car and remove any debris and clutter.
- Clean the reg plate. (If it is not legible, your car could fail its MOT).
- Check that all lights are working correctly.
- Check the tyre pressure.
- Ensure all fluids such as the screenwash, oil, and brake fluid are topped up.
- Test the horn.
- Ensure all mirrors are intact and secure.
- Check that the vehicle identification number (VIN) is visible on the car - and matches the VIN referenced in your V5C logbook.
Visit our full MOT checklist guide for a comprehensive list of pre-MOT checks.
An MOT usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete. However, it may take longer if additional repairs are required.
Yes, you can set up a text or email reminder for your next MOT via the DVLA website.
You cannot access this service if you live in Northern Ireland. Instead, you’ll receive a postal reminder seven weeks before your next MOT.
If you notice a mileage error on your MOT certificate and the test was completed less than 28 days ago, you should contact the relevant test centre.
They should be able to check the mileage, rectify any errors, and issue a replacement certificate.
However, if more than 28 days has elapsed, you need to report the issue to the DVLA by emailing motreplacement@dvsa.gov.uk.
- To get the recorded mileage amended, you’ll need to submit photographic evidence of the correct mileage, along with proof that the photo was taken on the day of the test.
Running MOT history checks is even more important for used car buyers. Our report can show you a wealth of valuable information that can help you:
- Confirm whether the car is MOT certified – a key consideration for road legality.
- Spot recurring issues that could be a result of poor maintenance.
- See whether critical repairs were actioned after past failures.
- Confirm whether advisory repairs were carried out.
- Identify longer gaps between MOT tests, which may suggest a car has been taken off the road.
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Data presented in webuyanycar car, tax and MOT check contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 of which we assume is correct at the time of presentation to the consumer.