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MOT History Check | Ensure Your Vehicle’s Roadworthiness
Not verifying a car’s MOT status can lead to costly repairs, fines, or accidents. Buyers risk buying unsafe vehicles, while sellers may face legal issues for selling unroadworthy cars. Check MOT history now and improve safety!
Why is Checking MOT History Important?
Every car buyer, seller, or owner has to be sure a vehicle’s MOT is up to date as it is illegal and unsafe to drive one with a failed MOT. Checking the MOT status and history of a vehicle can also expose hidden defects and past issues that could cost you down the line.
Here’s why it’s so important:
- Saves Money on Repairs: Checking the MOT history helps you avoid buying a car that may need expensive repairs soon after purchase.
- Avoid Buying a Lemon: You can spot red flags like repeated MOT failures, giving you the chance to reconsider or negotiate a lower price.
- Ensures Safety and Reliability: A full MOT history ensures the car is roadworthy and safe to drive, preventing costly breakdowns.
- Avoid Fines and Legal Trouble: MOT check helps to make sure the vehicle meets legal requirements saving you unnecessary fines and penalties.
What is included in an MOT test?
An MOT test is a comprehensive vehicle inspection to ensure it meets the UK government’s road safety and environmental standards.
The following components are typically checked in an MOT test:
- Body/vehicle structure
- Seats
- Boot/tailgate
- Towbar
- Exhaust emissions
- Doors
- Mirrors
- Tyres, wheels, and TPMS
- Bonnet
- Registration plates
- Lights
- Electrical wiring and battery
- Windscreen
- Wipers/washers
What Does Our MOT History Check Include?
Our MOT history check provides everything about all MOT tests a vehicle has taken since it was registered. With Smart Car Check, you can find out whether or not a vehicle is due for an MOT test, how many times it passed or failed in the past, and more.
Here’s everything you can find with our instant MOT history check tool:
Current MOT Status
Check if a vehicle has a valid MOT and is legally roadworthy.
MOT Due Date
Find out the exact date when the next MOT test is due.
MOT Days Remaining
See how many days are left before the current MOT expires.
MOT Full History
Access a complete record of all MOT tests a vehicle has undergone.
Pass/Failed MOT Tests
Review whether the vehicle passed or failed each test.
Odometer Unit Changes
Check if any changes to the vehicle's odometer have been flagged.
MOT Exempt Status
Determine whether a vehicle is exempt from MOT testing.
Days Out Of MOT
See how long a vehicle has been without a valid MOT certificate.
Failure List
View all the specific issues that caused a failed MOT test.
Mileage Records
Track the mileage recorded at each MOT test for consistency.
Advisory Details
Find any advisory notices indicating potential future issues with the vehicle.
Annotation Items
Review any additional notes or comments from past MOT inspections.
MOT categories
The MOT test results categories vehicle defects into different levels of severity. Here’s a table explaining the MOT categories as effective since 2018:
| Category | Description | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | The vehicle meets the minimum legal standards. | No action required other than regular maintenance. The vehicle receives an MOT certificate. |
| Advisory | Issues that are not serious enough to fail the test but could become problematic in the future. | These issues should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent them from worsening. |
| Minor | Defects that have no significant impact on the safety of the vehicle or the environment. | These should be fixed at the earliest opportunity, but, the vehicle will still pass the test and can be driven. |
| Major | Defects that may affect the vehicle's safety, put other road users at risk, or impact the environment. | Repairs are required immediately. The vehicle will fail the test and needs to be taken in for fixes before retaking the test. |
| Dangerous | Defects that pose a direct and immediate risk to road safety or have a serious impact on the environment. | The vehicle will fail the test and cannot be driven until the defects are repaired. Immediate action is required. |
How To Get an MOT History Check?
If you are a car buyer, seller, or owner interested in checking a vehicle’s MOT status and history, these are the steps you need to follow:
- Enter the vehicle registration number in the search bar or search by VIN.
- Click on the “Search” button to initiate the search.
- Our tool will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the car’s MOT history in a detailed report.
Now, you can ensure the vehicle’s roadworthiness and safety before buying or selling.
What Are the Risks of Driving Without a Valid MOT?
Driving a vehicle without a valid MOT comes with several risks to your safety, and you could even get your vehicle impounded. Some of these risks are:
- Fines and Penalties: Motorists caught driving without a valid MOT can face fines of up to £1,000. If you drive a vehicle deemed “dangerous,” you can be fined up to £2,500 and receive up to three penalty points.
- Invalidated Insurance Coverage: Most insurance policies require a valid MOT certificate for coverage to be effective. So, driving without one makes your insurance void, leaving you to pay for damages in the event of an accident.
- Risk of Driving Ban: If caught driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT and is considered dangerous, you risk having your driving license suspended or revoked altogether.
- Vehicle Seizure: Police have the authority to seize vehicles being driven without a valid MOT. In some cases, they may even destroy the vehicle if it is uninsured.
How to Book Your Next MOT Test?
To book your next MOT test, follow these simple steps:
Know Your MOT Due Date: Check when your MOT is due to ensure timely booking.
Use the Gov.uk Test Centre Locator: Find the nearest approved MOT test centre using the government’s online tool.
Look for the Blue Sign: Ensure the centre has the blue sign with three white triangles, indicating it's an approved MOT centre.
Select a Centre and Book: Choose your preferred test centre, then proceed to schedule your appointment.
Pay the Test Fee: Pay the necessary MOT test fees during the booking process.
Choose How to Get There: Decide whether to drive your car to the appointment or arrange a pickup and return service.
Check Your Results: After the test, confirm whether your vehicle passed or failed and request a printed MOT certificate.
Check Smart Car Check Sample Reports
Check Your MOT History Now
Don’t risk buying, selling, or driving a vehicle without knowing its MOT history. Get an MOT history check now, and stay safe on the road.
Get our Smart Car Check Mobile App
Are you looking for the best car history check UK? Make a smart decision with Smart Car Check App. Perform a Reg. number check in the UK to uncover any past problems and hidden history that the seller will not tell you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find out when my MOT is due?
You can find out when your MOT is due for free with our MOT check tool. All you need to do is fill out the form on this page and submit it. With this tool, you can view the current MOT status and due date of your vehicle at absolutely no cost.
What happens if your vehicle fails the MOT?
If your vehicle fails the MOT, you need to check the exact reason why and get it fixed as soon as possible. Afterward, get the vehicle retested.
How to prepare for an MOT test?
If your MOT is due, there are a few steps you need to take before booking an appointment to ensure it passes the test. They are:
- Check all lights, brakes, tires, wipers, and fluid levels.
- Ensure seatbelts, mirrors, and horns work properly.
- Clear dashboard warning lights.
- Clean the car, including the number plates.
- Top up oil and washer fluid.
- Test emissions if unsure.
- Fix minor faults in advance to avoid failure and costly repairs later.
What are the common reasons for MOT failures?
According to the DVSA, the leading cause of MOT failure is lighting problems, which include malfunctioning headlights, brake lights, indicators, and registration plate lights.
How much does an MOT test cost?
The maximum fee for a car MOT test in the UK is £54.85, but testing stations can charge less, and fees for motorcycles are lower, at a maximum of £29.65.
