About MotRadar

What MotRadar is

Enter a UK registration number and MotRadar shows the vehicle's current MOT status, its expiry date, every recorded MOT test, the failure items and advisories behind each result, and how the recorded mileage has moved over the life of the vehicle.

There is no account to create, no sign-up form and no paywall. The same check serves a private buyer looking at a used car, an owner who wants to know when the next MOT is due, and anyone who simply wants to understand a vehicle's test record.

Who runs MotRadar

MotRadar is an independently run project. It is not a company, a garage group, an insurer or a vehicle dealer, and it has no commercial relationship with any business that buys, sells, repairs or insures vehicles.

The site is built and maintained by a single developer, who reads and answers email directly at support@motradar.co.uk. No one pays MotRadar to change, rank or hide anything in a report.

Where the data comes from

Every MOT record shown on MotRadar comes from the DVSA MOT History API, the official service run by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. MotRadar contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

MotRadar is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to DVSA, DVLA, GOV.UK or any other government body. It is an independent site that reuses data DVSA publishes for that purpose.

Because the record belongs to DVSA, MotRadar cannot correct it. If a test is missing or a figure looks wrong, the correction has to be made at source. The Contact page explains who to ask, and the methodology page sets out exactly which fields MotRadar reads and the rules it applies to them.

What MotRadar adds

The DVSA record is accurate, but it is written for testers rather than drivers. MotRadar keeps the facts exactly as DVSA holds them and adds a layer of interpretation on top.

It groups advisories that repeat across several years, so a defect that keeps being flagged stands out instead of hiding among dozens of lines. It lays out recorded mileage test by test, so a long gap or a reading that goes backwards is easy to spot. It explains each result in plain English.

The guides, such as what fails an MOT and whether there is an MOT grace period, are written by MotRadar from published DVSA and GOV.UK rules. The facts are DVSA's; the explanation is ours.

How MotRadar handles your data

MotRadar is designed to be used anonymously. It does not create accounts, ask for an email address or sell personal data. A registration number is sent to MotRadar's own server, which queries DVSA; DVSA credentials and access tokens never reach your browser.

The site uses Google Analytics 4 to count page views. The Privacy Policy sets out exactly what is collected, how long it is kept and how to ask about it.

How MotRadar is funded

MotRadar is free to use. To cover hosting and data costs, the site may display advertising. Any adverts are kept visually separate from MOT results and never change what a report says.

MotRadar does not accept payment from garages, dealers, insurers or warranty sellers to influence a result, and there are no affiliate links inside MOT reports.

What MotRadar is not

MotRadar is not a government service and not a substitute for a mechanical inspection by a qualified mechanic. It does not reveal who owns a vehicle, and it does not show insurance status, outstanding finance, write-off records or valuations.

It shows the MOT test record only. A clean MOT history is a good sign, but it is not a guarantee that a vehicle is in good condition today.

Contact and corrections

Questions, corrections and feedback go to support@motradar.co.uk. MotRadar aims to reply within two working days. The Contact page explains what to send where, including what to do if an MOT record itself looks wrong.

Last reviewed: 11 October 2026.