What DVSA publishes
DVSA (the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) publishes MOT test history for free by registration number, for any vehicle that's had at least one MOT. Each test entry shows the date, result (pass, fail or advisory notes), the mileage recorded at the time, and the expiry date if it passed. This is one of the more reliable public records in the UK, since garages submit results directly, and it can't be edited by a seller afterward.
What it doesn't show
- Finance owed on the vehicle
- Insurance write-off category
- Stolen markers
- Full servicing history (only MOT-related work and advisories, not routine servicing)
It's also limited to cars over three years old, since that's when the first MOT is due, so a newer car will show little or no history yet regardless of how it's been looked after.
Reading advisories correctly
An advisory isn't a fail; it's a note that something is close to needing attention but wasn't bad enough to fail the test on the day. A pattern of the same advisory recurring across several years, without ever being fixed, is worth asking the seller about directly. For a fuller picture that includes finance and write-off status alongside the MOT record, MOTCO's MOT history checker pulls DVSA's data together with those other checks.
Since garages enter it independently at each test, comparing it against the seller's claimed mileage is one of the simplest checks you can run for free.
Common questions
Is DVSA MOT history the same as a full vehicle history check?
No. It's free and official, but it only covers MOT test results and mileage at each test. It doesn't include finance, write-off or stolen-vehicle data.
How far back does MOT history go?
Typically back to the car's first MOT, roughly three years after first registration, so a car's full MOT history is usually available for as long as it's been on the road past that point.