Guide

How to check a used car's MOT history before you buy

Before you travel to see a used car, its MOT history takes a couple of minutes to read and tells you things the advert may not. This guide covers what the record shows, what to look for, and what it cannot tell you.

By Snaffla · Published 25 Oct 2026

What does an MOT history show?

For a car tested in Great Britain, the official record lists each MOT test: the date, whether it passed or failed, the mileage the tester recorded, and the reasons for any failure. It also lists advisories, which are problems the tester noted that were not serious enough to fail the car that day.

Anyone can look it up for free with the car's registration number. Tests in Northern Ireland are run by a different agency, so check what is available for a car registered there.

What should you look for in it?

Read the whole list, not just the latest result. The pattern across several years says more than one pass.

Mileage that rises by a sensible amount each year. A drop, or a year where it hardly moves, is worth asking about.
The same advisory appearing year after year, such as corrosion, worn brakes or tyres, which suggests it was never fixed.
Failures, and how quickly the car passed afterwards.
Gaps between tests of more than a year, which can mean a period without a valid MOT.
An MOT that is about to run out, which affects whether you can drive it home legally and what a test might cost you.

How do you compare it with the advert?

Put the advert's mileage next to the mileage at the last test. A car advertised with much lower mileage than its last MOT recorded is a reason to ask the seller why, and to walk away if there is no good answer.

Do the same with the colour, fuel type and first registration date shown on the record. If they do not match the advert, the car or the advert is not what it claims to be.

What can an MOT history not tell you?

An MOT is a roadworthiness check on one day. It does not show whether money is still owed on the car, whether it has been written off, how many owners it has had, whether it has been serviced, or whether anything has gone wrong since the test.

It also does not check the engine, gearbox or clutch in the way a mechanic would. A clean history is a good sign, not a guarantee.

How does Snaffla help with this?

The Vehicle checker in Snaffla looks up a UK registration number and shows the car's make, model, colour, fuel and first registered date, when its MOT runs out, and the mileage at its last MOT. "Full MOT history" lists every test on record with its result, mileage, failures and advisories, and whether the car has an outstanding safety recall.

On a car listing, "Check this vehicle" compares the official MOT record with the advert and points out things worth asking the seller about, such as a mileage that does not match, a failed MOT, an MOT about to run out, or a time when the car went without a valid MOT.

It uses the official government MOT records. It is not a full history check, so it does not tell you about finance owing or whether a car has been written off.

What else should you check before paying?

Use the MOT history to decide whether a car is worth seeing, then check the rest in person and on paper.

Check that the seller's name and address match the V5C registration document.
Run a vehicle history check for outstanding finance and previous write-offs.
See the car in daylight, look underneath for rust and leaks, and take it for a test drive.
Be wary of anyone who asks for money before you have seen the car.

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