Free UK MOT check
MOT check for UK vehicles with clear history behind it.
Enter a UK registration number to run a free MOT check using DVSA data. Review MOT status, test history, defects, advisories, repeated issues and mileage trends. No login, email or marketing consent required.
Enter a UK registration to see MOT status, history and trends.
What MotRadar checks
MotRadar is a free MOT check for people who want the important vehicle record before they make a decision. Enter a registration number and MotRadar queries DVSA data from the server, then turns the response into a readable MOT report. The MOT check can show current MOT status, expiry date when available, test history, pass and fail results, advisories, dangerous defects, major defects, minor defects, recorded mileage and data freshness.
The report focuses on information that can be traced back to MOT records. Use it as a MOT checker for the official MOT history, not as a hidden vehicle score. It does not ask for a login and does not send DVSA credentials to the browser. If a record is incomplete, stale or unavailable, the page labels that state rather than pretending the data is more certain than it is.
How to use the MOT checker
- Type the UK registration number into the free MOT check.
- Submit the form and wait for the same-origin server lookup.
- Read the current MOT status and expiry information first.
- Review the MOT history timeline from newest to oldest.
- Look at repeated advisories, defect groups and mileage changes before deciding what to check next.
Spaces, hyphens and lower-case letters are accepted, so you can run a MOT check UK drivers can use from the plate format they have in front of them. If the vehicle is not found, check the registration again. Very new vehicles, exempt vehicles, recent changes or upstream data delays can also affect whether a record is available.
How to read MOT results
A valid result means the available record shows a current certificate that has not expired. Expired, not valid or unknown states need more care because the vehicle may not be legal to use on public roads except in limited circumstances, such as travelling to a pre-booked MOT test. Always check the latest official position before driving.
Defects are grouped by severity. Dangerous and major defects are serious failures. Minor defects and advisories do not mean the same thing, but both can show where maintenance may be needed. A repeated advisory matters because the same wording across different test dates can show an issue that was not resolved. Mileage is shown as a recorded history, not as proof of condition. A drop in recorded mileage may be a clerical error, unit change, instrument replacement or something that needs further investigation.
- Dangerous
Direct risk to safety — do not drive.
- Major
Serious failure — repair and retest.
- Minor
Note it and monitor before it worsens.
- Advisory
Watch item that may need future work.
Why MOT history matters
MOT history is useful before buying, selling or maintaining a car. Buyers who want a dedicated timeline can use the free MOT history check before a check vehicle MOT flow to spot frequent failures, recurring advisories and gaps in the record. Owners can use old advisories as a maintenance checklist before the next test. Sellers can understand what a careful buyer is likely to ask about. The best use of the data is practical: it helps you decide what to inspect, what to ask and what evidence to keep.
MotRadar keeps this narrow on purpose. It is not a vehicle valuation tool, insurance check, tax check, finance check or stolen vehicle check. It is a focused MOT status, MOT check and MOT history tool that explains what the official records say and where those records have limits.
What an MOT does and does not cover
An MOT looks at whether important parts of a vehicle meet road safety and environmental standards at the time of the test. Typical areas include lights, tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, visibility, body structure, seat belts and emissions. The result is valuable, but it is not the same as a full mechanical inspection.
An MOT does not prove that every part of the vehicle is healthy. It does not fully assess engine condition, clutch life, gearbox wear, market value or whether a future MOT will pass. Treat the MOT record as one piece of evidence. If the vehicle matters financially or legally, combine the record with documents, a physical inspection and professional advice where appropriate.
Privacy, data and limits
MotRadar works anonymously for the MVP. You do not need an account, email address or marketing consent to use the MOT checker. Registration numbers are sent to the MotRadar server so it can query DVSA without exposing client secrets or access tokens in browser code. Successful responses may be cached briefly to improve speed and resilience, and stale fallback data is clearly labelled if it is ever shown during an upstream outage.
MotRadar is independent and is not a government website. It displays public sector information from DVSA under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for the full service boundary.
FAQ
Can I run a free MOT check without an account?
Yes. The MVP query flow works anonymously.
Why might a vehicle not be found in a MOT check?
Check the registration format first. New registrations, exempt vehicles, source data delays and temporary upstream issues can also affect results.
Can I use this to check car MOT and insurance together?
No. MotRadar is a MOT checker only. It uses DVSA MOT History API data and is not operated by DVSA, DVLA or GOV.UK. It does not check insurance, vehicle tax or finance status.
Can I rely on this as buying advice?
No. MotRadar explains MOT records from the lookup, but it is not legal advice, buying advice, mechanical inspection, valuation or future MOT pass guarantee.
Why can mileage look wrong?
MOT mileage is recorded during tests. Apparent drops can come from clerical errors, unit conflicts, dashboard changes or other causes. Treat them as a reason to ask more questions, not as a final conclusion.