Check any car's MOT history
Expiry date, past passes and failures, advisories and mileage — straight from official DVSA records.
Never miss an MOT again
Free reminder about four weeks before your test is due — one email a year, nothing else, unsubscribe any time.
What the MOT history check shows
Every MOT test in Great Britain is logged by the DVSA against the vehicle's registration. Enter a reg above and you get that official record back in seconds:
- MOT expiry date — when the current certificate runs out, so you know when the next test is due.
- Every pass and fail since 2005, with the date of each test.
- Recorded mileage at each test.
- Defects and advisories — exactly what the tester failed or flagged, in the tester's own words.
- Make, model, colour, fuel type and the date the vehicle was first used.
How to read the results
Since 20 May 2018, defects fall into four categories. Dangerous and major defects mean an automatic fail. Minor defects are a pass, but they're written on the certificate. Advisories are the tester's warning that something is wearing out — a tyre near the legal limit, a corroding brake pipe.
Advisories are the most useful part of the history. The faults that fail a car next year are usually sitting in this year's advisories, so fixing them before you book is the cheapest way to pass first time. See the most common MOT fail reasons.
Buying a used car? Check these three things
- Mileage that goes backwards or barely moves for several years. It can point to clocking — ask the seller why before you pay.
- The same advisory, year after year. Corrosion or suspension wear that keeps getting flagged but never fixed says a lot about how the car was looked after.
- Gaps in the history. A missing year can mean the car was off the road, or driven without an MOT.
How your car's make compares
Some makes pass far more often than others. We analysed 31.7 million MOT tests from 2025: see MOT pass rates by make and area to see how your car and your postcode compare with the national average.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MOT history check free?
Yes. ClearMOT's check is free with no sign-up. It reads the official DVSA MOT history record for the registration you enter.
How far back does MOT history go?
DVSA's computerised records cover MOT tests in Great Britain from 2005 onwards, so most vehicles show every test since then. A car under three years old has no history yet because it hasn't needed a test.
What's the difference between a major, minor and advisory defect?
Dangerous and major defects are fails. A minor defect is a pass but gets recorded on the certificate. An advisory is something the tester thinks will need attention soon. These categories have been used since 20 May 2018.
Can MOT history show if a car has been clocked?
It can flag it. The mileage is recorded at every test, so a reading that goes down, or barely moves for years, is worth questioning before you buy. It isn't proof on its own: odometers get replaced.
When is my MOT due?
Cars need their first MOT by the third anniversary of registration, then every year. Enter your reg above to see your exact expiry date. You can test up to a month minus a day early and keep the same renewal date.
Due soon? Find a DVSA-approved MOT centre near you — the fee is capped at £54.85 for a car. More in our MOT due date guide and pre-MOT checklist.