Free MOT check.
No catch.
A completely free MOT check: current status, the exact expiry date and the full test history — no account, no card, no trial.
Type a registration above for a free MOT check. You will see whether the vehicle has a valid MOT, the date it expires, and its complete history of test results, mileages and advisories since 2005. The check is provided free because MOT records are public data — there is no catch and no sign-up.
Why this MOT check is free
MOT status and history are public records published by the DVSA. Sites that charge for a plain MOT check are charging you for data the government gives away. MOTBuddy shows the full official record free, and makes its money only from the optional full report (finance, write-off and stolen data, which genuinely costs money to licence) and from advertising. If a site asks for card details before showing an MOT result, close the tab.
Everything in your free MOT check
- Current status — valid, expired, or not yet due.
- Exact expiry date — plan your next test around it (up to a month early, keeping the same date).
- Full results history — every pass and failure since 2005 with reasons.
- Mileage timeline — every odometer reading recorded by testers.
- Advisories — the early warnings from the most recent tests.
Three jobs a free MOT check does for you
Never miss the date. Driving on an expired MOT can be fined up to £1,000, and it is the easiest motoring offence to commit by accident. One check a year, when you tax the car, keeps both dates in front of you. Never overpay for a car. “Long MOT” in an advert sometimes means five months; the check gives the date, not the adjective. Never buy blind. The history’s failure pattern and mileage line tell you more about how a car was treated than any valet can hide.
Free check not working? Quick fixes
If a free check returns no record: double-check the registration (letter O vs number 0 is the classic), consider whether the car is under 3 years old (no MOT yet), over 40 (usually exempt), or recently imported or re-plated — private plate transfers can take a few days to appear against the vehicle. If it is a Northern Ireland vehicle, its tests are recorded by the DVA and appear in the same check.
After the free check: what next?
If the MOT record is clean and you are buying, the sensible next step for a car of any real value is the full report — finance, write-off and stolen checks that no free service can legally provide. If the record worries you (mileage drop, repeated failures), the right next step is simpler: walk away. There is always another car.
Sample result — this is what your data looks like
Status, date and the whole history — all of it in the free result. (Sample data shown for illustration.)
Frequently asked questions
Is this MOT check really 100% free?
Yes. No card, no account, no trial period and no limit on checks. MOT data is public record; charging for a basic check would be charging for free data.
What do I need for a free MOT check?
Only the vehicle registration number.
Can I do a free MOT check on someone else’s car?
Yes — the record is public, and the keeper is not told.
Does the free check include the expiry date?
Yes — the exact expiry date is shown with the status, alongside the full history.
Why do some sites charge for MOT checks?
They are usually bundling the free MOT data with paid data (finance, write-off) or charging for convenience. Always check what is actually included before paying.
Related free checks
Nothing else needed
On screen in seconds
Full report if you’re buying