MOT checker.
Valid or expired?
Our MOT checker reads the official DVSA record for any registration — current status, expiry date and the full test history behind it.
Type any UK registration into the MOT checker above. In seconds you will see whether the vehicle’s MOT is valid, when it expires, and its complete history of passes, failures, mileages and advisories. The checker is free, needs no sign-up, and works for any vehicle — your own, or one you are buying or selling.
What the MOT checker reads
- Status today — valid, expired, or not due yet (vehicles under 3 years old).
- Expiry date — the exact day the current certificate ends.
- Every test result — passes and failures since 2005, with the reasons recorded.
- Mileage at each test — the odometer record that exposes clocking.
- Advisories — the “watch this” items that predict your next repair bills.
How to read an MOT checker result
Start with the status and date — that is the legal position. Then read down the history. One failure years ago on a wear item is normal. The warning patterns are: the same item failing repeatedly, advisory lists that grow every year (a car being run on the cheap), mileage that drops between tests, and a big gap with no tests at all. A clean, consistent history with steady mileage is the strongest free signal that a car has been looked after.
MOT checker for buyers
Run the checker on every car you shortlist — before you travel. Ask the seller for the registration if the advert hides the plate; a seller who will not share it is telling you something. On the forecourt, the checker settles three arguments instantly: whether the MOT is really “long”, whether the mileage really matches the car’s story, and whether the “minor advisories” are minor. It takes under a minute and costs nothing, which is exactly why dealers’ descriptions should always be checked, never trusted.
MOT checker for owners
Owners use the checker for one job: never missing the date. Your expiry stays the same each year, you can test up to a month (minus a day) early without losing time, and driving on an expired MOT risks a fine of up to £1,000. A spring-clean habit helps too: reading last year’s advisories in the checker before you book tells the garage exactly what to look at — and stops a small advisory becoming this year’s failure.
Why checkers sometimes show no record
No record usually means one of four things: the vehicle is under 3 years old (first MOT not yet due), it is over 40 years old and MOT-exempt, it was recently imported and is not yet fully on the UK system, or the registration was typed slightly wrong. Private plates recently transferred can also take a short while to settle in the record.
Sample result — this is what your data looks like
The checker lays the record out in date order — result, mileage and tester notes — so the car’s story reads clearly. (Sample data shown for illustration.)
Frequently asked questions
Is the MOT checker free to use?
Yes — unlimited MOT checks are free on MOTBuddy, with no account and no payment details.
Does the checker work for vans and motorbikes?
Yes. The DVSA record covers cars, vans and motorcycles tested under the MOT scheme, with history from 2005 for cars.
Can the owner see that I checked their car?
No. Checks are anonymous — the keeper is never notified.
The checker shows a mileage drop. What should I do?
Treat it as a serious warning sign of clocking. Ask for documentary proof (service history, old MOT certificates); without it, walk away or pay for a full history report before buying.
How often is the checker data updated?
The DVSA record updates as tests are completed, so a test done today normally appears the same day.
Related free checks
Nothing else needed
On screen in seconds
Full report if you’re buying