Check a vehicle

Car buying and MOT guides

Plain-English answers to the questions UK drivers ask most: MOT rules and dates, defects and advisories, car tax, ULEZ, and checking a used car before you buy.

MOTCan you drive without an MOT? Rules, fines and exceptionsNo, apart from two narrow exceptions: driving to a booked test or a booked repair. What the law allows, the fines, and how to get back on the road legally.6 min readRead
MOTDashboard warning lights and the MOT: which ones mean a fail?An engine, ABS or airbag light that stays on is a major defect at the MOT, even if the car drives perfectly. Which lights testers check, and what to do first.4 min readRead
MOTHow early can you MOT a car without losing days?Test up to a month minus a day early and you keep your renewal date. Worked examples show the exact window for any expiry date.6 min readRead
Buying a used carHow to check if a car has been clocked using MOT mileage historyWinding back an odometer takes minutes with a laptop, but every MOT logs the reading publicly. A step-by-step method, with worked examples, for spotting the gaps.6 min readRead
Buying a used carMOTHow to read a car's MOT history before buying a used carThe MOT history is the only part of a used car's story the seller didn't write. A 10-minute method for reading it before you go to see the car.7 min readRead
TaxBuying a used carHow to tax a car you've just boughtThe seller's tax ends the moment the car is yours, and there's no grace period. How to tax a car you've just bought, using the green new keeper slip.4 min readRead
TaxBuying a used carIs my car taxed? How to check car tax and avoid finesSince 2014 there's no disc in the windscreen to tell you. How to check a car's tax status by reg, what taxed, untaxed and SORN mean, and the penalties.7 min readRead
MOTLost your MOT certificate? How to get a replacementYour MOT lives on DVSA's database, not on the paper, so losing the certificate rarely matters. When you do need a copy, and how to get one.6 min readRead
MOTBuying a used carMOT advisories explained: what they mean and what to fix firstHalf of all cars tested in 2023 left with at least one advisory. They don't fail the MOT, but they're the tester's warning of what's coming next.6 min readRead
MOTMOT for new cars: when is the first MOT due?The first MOT is due three years after registration, not purchase. Pre-registered, ex-demo and imported cars are where owners most often get the date wrong.6 min readRead
MOTMOT grace period: does one exist? (myth vs reality)There's no grace period after an MOT expires: not 14 days, not a month. Where the myth comes from, and the two journeys the law does allow.6 min readRead
MOTMOT retest rules: when it's free, partial or full priceFix a failed MOT within a day or two and the retest is often free; wait too long and you pay for a full test again. The three retest types explained.5 min readRead
MOTBuying a used carMOT vs service: what's the difference?A car can pass its MOT and still be overdue a service, or the other way round. How the legal test and routine maintenance differ, and how to plan both.6 min readRead
MOTPre-MOT checklist: 20 things to check yourself before the testTwenty quick checks, grouped by area, that you can do on your driveway in under half an hour. No tools beyond a coin and a helper needed for most.6 min readRead
TaxSORN explained: taking a car off the road the right wayKeeping a car off the road? A free SORN stops the tax bill, but parking it on the street or driving it to the shops can cost up to £2,500.4 min readRead
MOTThe most common reasons cars fail their MOT (and how to avoid them)Lights alone failed 11.3% of cars at their 2023 MOT, more than any other area. The common failure areas, ranked, and the driveway checks that prevent them.6 min readRead
MOTTyre tread depth and the MOT: the legal limit and how to check6.3% of cars failed their 2023 MOT on tyres. The 1.6mm legal limit, what testers look for beyond tread, and a one-minute check with a 20p coin.4 min readRead
ULEZBuying a used carULEZ explained: which cars are compliant and what it costsSince August 2023 the ULEZ covers every London borough. Which cars comply, what the daily charge costs if yours doesn't, and what you can do about it.6 min readRead
Buying a used carUsed car buying checklist: 25 checks before you payA step-by-step checklist for buying a used car, from the checks you can do at home to what to look at on the day and the paperwork you need.5 min readRead
MOTWhich vehicles are MOT exempt? (classic cars, electric vans and more)Being over 40 years old doesn't automatically excuse a car from its MOT. Who really qualifies, how to claim the exemption and what stays your responsibility.6 min readRead
MOTDangerous, major and minor MOT defects explainedSince 2018, every fault found at an MOT goes into one of four categories. Knowing the difference tells you whether you can drive home, and what to fix first.6 min readRead