How Can I Check My MOT History for Free?

According to the latest government figures, as of September 2023, there were 41.3 million vehicles licensed for use on roads in the UK. This figure is made up of 33.58 million cars, 4.73 million LGVs, 540,000 HGVs, 1.47 million motorcycles, 140,000 million buses and coaches, and 860,000 million other vehicles.

In London alone, which has one of the most comprehensive urban public transport systems in the world, there are some 2.6 million registered cars.

To ensure that all of those vehicles are safe to be on the road, every vehicle registered for at least three years needs to be subject to an annual MOT check. 

During an MOT, a qualified mechanic will test everything from the brakes, suspension and exterior lights to the windscreen wipers, emissions and seatbelts. Only when all tests have been made and everything has passed can the vehicle in question be legally driven on the public highway. 

mechanic underneath a car with tailpipes

If your vehicle doesn’t have a valid MOT certificate, you could be liable to a £1,000 fine or more commonly a £100 fixed penalty notice. For vehicles having a ‘major fault’ or classed as ‘dangerous’ on the last MOT, those penalties are likely to be considerably greater.

But if you’re thinking about buying a second-hand car and want to know more about its history, or you’re not sure when your own MOT is due, how can you easily find out?

How Can I View a Vehicle’s MOT History?

Because the MOT is considered such an important part of road safety in the UK, the government has introduced a smart feature that allows you to see a number of important elements to do with any car, including:

  • Make, model and date of registration
  • Whether the vehicle in question has a valid MOT and when it is valid until
  • Colour and fuel type
  • Recorded mileage
  • MOT test number
  • Previous MOTs, including any advisories, mileage, test number, etc
  • Test location (requires reference number from VC5 log book)

This feature is entirely free to use and can be accessed by clicking here.

MOT Servicing in Mill Hill North London

Drivers in and around Mill Hill in North London can book their cars in for their next MOT at UK Tyres’ local depot, where we’ve been helping people with a wide range of car servicing and repair services for many years.

Ford Focus is being serviced by UK Tyres

We’re a family-run business now into its fourth generation and are trusted by customers throughout the area to provide honest advice, reliable and friendly service, and affordable prices every time. If you’re still not sure, why not take a look at our latest reviews to find out what our customers have been saying about their experiences, both at Mill Hill and our dedicated tyre centre in West London?

Don’t take a chance with the safety of your vehicle when out on the road. UK Tyres can help with everything from MOTs and new tyres for all kinds of vehicles – including 4x4s, vans and taxis – to brakes, batteries, exhausts and more.

Call us now to find out more or book an appointment.