MOT history check — reading the DVSA record like a mechanic
6 min read · Updated 1 July 2026
The MOT record is the single most useful free document about a used car. Most buyers only look at pass or fail — here's what the other 90% tells you.
What's in an MOT record
Every MOT since 2005 is logged by DVSA against the car's VRM. Each entry contains: date, result (pass/fail), mileage at test, and a list of any failures and advisory items.
Step 1: Check the mileage trend
List the mileages in chronological order. The line should climb steadily. Anything else deserves attention:
- Mileage drops between two tests → odometer has been rolled back.
- Suspiciously flat mileage for a year → car sat unused (dry rot, seized brakes, perished belts).
- Sudden 30,000+ mile year after a quiet spell → possibly ex-taxi or courier.
Step 2: Look for missing MOTs
A missing year usually means the car was declared SORN, but it can also mean the seller has hidden a failed MOT by re-testing at a different centre. Ask what happened.
Step 3: Read the failure list
One-off failures are normal — cars fail. What matters is repeats. The same failure across three years usually means a bodged repair that keeps coming back. Common examples: suspension bushes, exhaust corrosion, headlamp aim.
Step 4: Read the advisories
Advisories are the tester saying "this will fail soon". Track them across years — if "brake discs corroded" appears in three tests, the discs weren't replaced. Bring that bill into your offer.
Step 5: Cross-reference with the seller's story
"One careful owner, always garaged" is hard to square with a car that's failed three MOTs on corroded underside components. Use the record to sanity-check every claim.