Vehicle check.
The full record.
One registration, the whole picture — MOT, tax, specification and mileage history drawn from official DVLA and DVSA records.
Enter a registration number above for a complete vehicle check. In one result you will see the vehicle’s MOT status and full history, its tax position, core specification (make, model, fuel, engine, colour) and its recorded mileage timeline. The check is free, instant and needs nothing but the registration.
What a vehicle check covers
- MOT — current status, expiry date and every test since 2005 with results and advisories.
- Tax — taxed, SORN or untaxed, with the due date.
- Specification — make, model, fuel type, engine size, CO₂ and colour as recorded at registration.
- Mileage — the odometer reading at every MOT, the timeline that exposes clocking.
- Identity basics — first registration date and the details that confirm the car matches its paperwork.
Free check vs full report — what differs?
The free vehicle check covers everything held in the public official record. Four things are not in any free record, because the data is held by insurers and finance companies: outstanding finance, write-off history, stolen markers and keeper-change detail. Those sit in the paid full report. The sensible routine: free check first (it eliminates most bad cars in a minute), full report only for the car you are actually about to buy.
The buyer’s vehicle-check routine
- Step 1 — Identity: Confirm make, model, colour and fuel match the car in front of you and its advert.
- Step 2 — Legality: MOT valid with time to run; tax position understood (you must tax it yourself at purchase).
- Step 3 — History: Read the MOT timeline for repeats, growing advisories and mileage drops.
- Step 4 — Paperwork: Compare the check with the V5C logbook details the seller shows you.
- Step 5 — Serious money: If the car passes 1-4 and you are ready to buy, run the full report for finance, write-off and stolen checks.
Why one check is never the whole story
A vehicle check shows recorded facts, not condition. It cannot tell you the clutch is slipping or the service book is forged — but it tells you where to look: an advisory for corroded brake pipes three years running, mileage that stalls oddly between tests, or a colour that differs from the record are all prompts for a closer physical inspection. Used with your eyes (and a test drive), it is the difference between buying a story and buying a car.
Checking your own vehicle
Owners run vehicle checks to keep their own record straight: MOT and tax dates in one view before a trip, a colour or fuel mismatch to correct with the DVLA after a respray or engine change, and a mileage timeline that supports the car’s value when you sell. Buyers trust sellers who have already run the check and can show the record.
Sample result — this is what your data looks like
The full official picture on one card — legal status, specification and the mileage verdict — before you spend a penny. (Sample data shown for illustration.)
Frequently asked questions
Is this vehicle check really free?
Yes. The MOT, tax, specification and mileage check on MOTBuddy is free, with no sign-up. Only the enhanced full report (finance, write-off, stolen) is paid.
What do I need to run a vehicle check?
Just the registration number. No V5C, no VIN and no documents are needed for the free check.
Can I check a vehicle I don’t own?
Yes — the official record is public, and keepers are not notified. Checking before you buy is exactly what it is for.
Does the vehicle check include insurance status?
No. Insurance is held on the Motor Insurance Database and is not part of the free DVLA/DVSA record; our insurance pages explain how to check your own vehicle.
The check shows different details to the car I’m viewing. What then?
Stop and clarify before buying. A mismatch in colour, fuel or model can be a recording error — or a sign the plates are on the wrong vehicle.
Related free checks
Nothing else needed
On screen in seconds
Full report if you’re buying