Free MOT Check by Registration – History, Expiry & Mileage
Enter a number plate to see whether the MOT is valid, when it expires, the mileage recorded at each test and every defect or advisory the tester noted. Free, instant and no account needed.
What an MOT check by registration shows
A registration is enough to pull the MOT record held for a vehicle. The check returns the current MOT status, the date the certificate runs out, and a test-by-test history. Each entry lists the result, the date the test was completed, the odometer reading the tester entered, and any defects or advisories recorded on the day.
That history is the most detailed free maintenance record most cars have. A vehicle with clean passes and a handful of routine advisories has usually been looked after. One that fails repeatedly on brakes, suspension or corrosion is telling you where the money will go.
Reading the expiry date correctly
Cars in Great Britain generally need their first MOT three years after first registration, then annually. Driving without a valid MOT is an offence except when you are travelling to a pre-booked test or to a garage for repairs, and insurers may take a dim view of a lapsed certificate after a claim.
You can present a car up to one calendar month minus a day before the current certificate expires and keep the original expiry anniversary, so an early test does not cost you days of cover. If you leave it later than that, the new certificate runs twelve months from the test date instead.
Using advisories as a repair forecast
Advisories are the tester saying “not yet, but soon”. Tyres near the limit, brake discs worn on the edge, light surface corrosion on a subframe: none of these fail a car, but they reappear on the next test as majors if nothing is done. Reading two or three consecutive tests together shows whether an owner acted on advisories or ignored them.
The odometer readings matter just as much. Mileage recorded at each test should rise steadily. A reading lower than a previous one, or a sudden collapse in annual mileage right before a sale, is worth questioning before you hand over any money.
What MOT history cannot tell you
The record covers tests, and nothing else. Work carried out between tests, servicing, accident damage repaired privately, and any period the car spent off the road all sit outside it. Vehicles under three years old normally have no MOT record at all, and digital results only begin in 2005. History is also tied to the registration, so a car that has worn a private plate may have tests recorded under a previous one.
Treat a clean MOT history as encouraging rather than conclusive, and read it next to the V5C, the service book and the car itself.
Check tax, mileage and history too
MOT is only one part of the picture. Use the free car tax check to confirm the vehicle is taxed rather than declared SORN, the free mileage check to review recorded odometer readings on their own, and the full car history check if you are buying and need finance, stolen, write-off and keeper information.
Our guides go deeper on the rules: when your MOT is due, whether there is a grace period and the most common MOT failures. RegPeek is an independent service and is not affiliated with DVLA or DVSA; always confirm anything critical against the official record and the V5C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MOT check free?
Yes. Entering a registration and viewing MOT status, expiry date, past test results, recorded mileage and advisories costs nothing and needs no account.
How far back does MOT history go?
MOT results have been recorded digitally since 2005, so most cars show tests from then onwards. Vehicles registered more recently only show tests carried out since their first MOT.
What is the difference between a defect and an advisory?
A dangerous or major defect fails the test and must be repaired. A minor defect or advisory does not fail the vehicle, but it flags wear that is likely to need attention before the next test.
Does the MOT check show mileage?
Yes. The odometer reading entered by the tester is shown against each test, so you can see how the mileage has moved year by year and whether any reading looks out of sequence.
Is there a grace period after the MOT expires?
No. There is no grace period once a certificate has expired. Driving is only permitted to a pre-booked test or to a garage for repairs arranged in advance, and the penalty for using an untested vehicle otherwise can reach 1,000 pounds.
Does the MOT check prove a car is roadworthy today?
No. An MOT records the condition of the vehicle on the day it was tested. A car can develop faults the day after passing, so a valid MOT is not a substitute for inspecting the vehicle.