Free tool
Free MOT check
Type a registration to see when the MOT runs out, the mileage at every test, and each failure and advisory on record. Free, no sign-up, and nothing to do with getting a quote unless you want one.
Expiry date
The day the current certificate runs out, and how many days are left on it.
Mileage at each test
A reading every year, so a clocked car or one barely used stands out at a glance.
Faults and advisories
What failed, what was fixed on the day and what the tester said to keep an eye on.
Failed, or likely to? Repair or scrap
Start with the garage’s written quote for everything on the failure sheet, then add the advisories you know will come back next year. Set that against what the car is worth to you as it stands. On an older car, corrosion near the sills, subframes or suspension mounts, a worn-out exhaust system or a list of brake and suspension parts can easily cost more than the car fetches.
For a sense of scale, the typical car collected through our network last year was 17 years old and its owner was paid £228. A car in that bracket with a four-figure repair bill is usually worth more to a licensed yard than to its owner. Our scrap car insights show which models go most often, and the MOT failure page explains how a car with no MOT is collected.
Questions
Where does this MOT information come from?
From the DVSA’s own MOT history service, the same record the government publishes. We show it as it comes, with the newest test first.
Can I drive a car whose MOT has run out?
Only to a test that is already booked, or to a garage for the repairs it needs to pass. If the last test found a dangerous fault it should not be driven at all, and driving without a valid MOT can bring a fine of up to £1,000. A car collected for scrap never has to be driven: it goes on the truck.
Does a car need an MOT to be scrapped?
No. Licensed yards take cars with an expired MOT, a failed test or no test at all. The MOT has no bearing on the paperwork; the Certificate of Destruction closes the record either way.
What is the difference between a failure and an advisory?
A dangerous or major fault fails the test and has to be put right. A minor fault is noted but passes. An advisory is the tester warning you that a part is wearing and will probably need work before long, so a list of advisories is a good guide to next year’s bill.
Do you keep the registrations people check?
The answer is kept for a week so a second look loads quickly, and that is all. Checking a car does not create a quote, and nobody will call you about it.