How to read a car's MOT history before buying a used car

When you're buying a used car, almost everything you're told comes from the person who wants to sell it. The MOT history is different. It's a record written by qualified testers, year after year, with no interest in the sale. Reading it properly takes about ten minutes and can save you from an expensive mistake.

Judge it against cars of the same age. In DVSA's 2023 data, 88% of three-year-old cars passed first time, but only 68% of ten-year-old ones, so an older car with a few fails isn't unusual. The method below works for any car.

Before you start

You need the registration number. Most adverts show it, or the seller will give it to you. Run it through our free MOT history check and keep the results open while you work through the steps below.

Do this before you arrange a viewing. If the history raises questions, you can ask them on the phone and save yourself a wasted trip.

The 10-minute method

Step 1: Confirm it's the right car (1 minute)

Check that the make, model, colour and fuel type match the advert. A mismatch could be an innocent mistake, a respray, or a sign that the plates are cloned. Our reg check shows the DVLA details in full.

Step 2: Read the latest two tests closely (2 minutes)

The most recent tests describe the car as it is now. Note every defect and advisory. These are the things you'll want to inspect at the viewing and ask about.

Step 3: Look for patterns across years (2 minutes)

Scroll back through older tests and look for the same issue appearing again and again: a corroded brake pipe, a worn suspension arm, an oil leak. Repeated advisories usually mean the owner kept putting off a repair. PlateWise groups these automatically, so they're easy to spot.

Step 4: Check the mileage (2 minutes)

Each test records the odometer reading. It should go up every year. Any reading that's lower than the one before needs explaining. Our mileage check charts the readings and flags drops. For more detail, read how to check if a car has been clocked.

Step 5: Look for gaps (1 minute)

Tests usually happen at roughly the same time each year. A missing year, or a test date that suddenly moves by several months, suggests the car was off the road or the MOT lapsed.

Step 6: Check how fails were handled (1 minute)

A fail followed by a pass a few days later shows the owner fixed the problem promptly. A fail followed by a long gap, or several fails before a pass, is worth asking about.

Step 7: Note the expiry date (1 minute)

How long is left on the current MOT? A fresh certificate gives you a year before the next bill. One that expires next month might need work you haven't budgeted for.

Traffic-light guide

Use this as a quick way to judge what you find:

Questions to ask the seller

Once you've read the history, call the seller with specific questions. Their answers tell you as much as the history does.

1. "The last MOT mentioned [advisory]. Has that been fixed since? Do you have the invoice?"
2. "There's no MOT for [year]. What happened then?"
3. "The mileage seems to drop in [year]. Can you explain that?"
4. "Who has been servicing the car, and is the history stamped or invoiced?"
5. "When is the MOT due, and would you put it through a fresh test before the sale?"

A good seller will answer clearly and offer paperwork. Vague or defensive answers are a reason to keep looking.

What MOT history won't show

The MOT history is powerful, but it has limits:

• It doesn't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs or whether the car has been reported stolen. You need a paid history check for those.
• It doesn't inspect the engine, clutch or gearbox in detail. A car can pass its MOT and still need major mechanical work.
• It's a snapshot. A part that passed last year may have worn since.
• It doesn't record the number of owners. That's on the V5C and in paid checks.

For anything expensive, combine the MOT history with a test drive, a careful look at the paperwork and, ideally, an independent inspection.

Comparing several cars

If you're choosing between similar cars, put their histories side by side. Look at:

• the average yearly mileage
• the number of advisories at the latest test
• whether any problem keeps recurring
• how long is left on the current MOT

Two cars at the same price can be very different buys once you've read their histories. Our compare tool puts two cars' MOT records and mileage side by side and highlights the stronger figure in each row, or you can open each report in its own browser tab.

Worked example: two similar cars

Imagine two five-year-old hatchbacks of the same model, both advertised at the same price.

Car B has the lower mileage, which might tempt you. But the history shows a brake problem that hasn't been fixed, repeated suspension work and a test due almost immediately. Car A has done more miles but has a cleaner record and nearly a year of MOT left. Unless Car B's seller can show recent invoices, Car A is likely the better buy, or Car B should be cheaper.

At the viewing

Bring your notes. Use the MOT history as a checklist for the inspection:

• look at the tyres the testers flagged
• check underneath for the corrosion they mentioned
• listen for the suspension knocks that match the advisories
• compare the dashboard mileage with the latest MOT reading
• check the VIN on the car matches the V5C

For everything else to look at on the day, from paperwork to the test drive, use our used car buying checklist.

Buying from a dealer

Dealers should know a car's MOT history, but they don't always volunteer it. The same method works on forecourt cars, and a few extra points apply:

• Ask whether the dealer will give the car a fresh MOT before handover. Many do as standard.
• Check that advertised preparation matches the record. If the advert says "new tyres" but the last MOT noted worn ones, ask for the invoice.
• Remember your rights. Buying from a trader gives you stronger legal protection if the car isn't as described, so keep the advert and any messages.

Summary

Read the latest tests, look for patterns, check the mileage, spot the gaps and see how fails were handled. Rate what you find, ask the seller specific questions, and use the history as your checklist at the viewing. For more on individual advisories, see our guide to MOT advisories explained.