MOT Check: How to Check Your Status, History and Due Date

Check your MOT status and expiry date free, understand previous results and advisories, and plan the right next step without confusing a lookup with a test.

A free MOT check can tell you whether a vehicle has a valid certificate and when it expires. Use the official GOV.UK status service with the registration number; use the separate history service for earlier results, mileage and recorded defects. An online lookup is a record check, not a physical inspection or proof that the car is safe today.

This guide helps you choose the right check, interpret what you find and decide what to do next. You do not need to buy a commercial vehicle-history package just to see the public MOT record.

MOT status, history or a new test?

• Status: use check MOT status to confirm the certificate and expiry date.
• History: use check MOT history to review previous inspection results.
• Physical test: book an approved testing station when the car needs its next inspection. A website lookup cannot renew a certificate.

If you were looking for an MOT check before buying a used car, read the history alongside service records and the vehicle's current condition. Passing an MOT does not establish that the engine or gearbox is healthy.

How to check the due date accurately

1. Copy the registration directly from the vehicle or your paperwork.
2. Open the official status or history service and check that the returned vehicle details match.
3. Read the latest expiry date rather than an older certificate in the history.
4. Save the date and plan an appointment with time for possible repairs.

Most private cars in Great Britain first need testing at three years, then annually. Special categories differ. If there is no test yet, check the registration date and category; do not treat a blank history as confirmation of an exemption. Our first MOT guide covers that situation.

What should you look for in the history?

Compare test dates, recorded mileage and recurring advisories. An advisory that appears repeatedly is a useful question for the owner or technician, but the record alone does not tell you whether repairs happened between tests. Ask for invoices rather than assuming an item was ignored or fixed.

Distinguish the inspection result from each defect's severity. Our guide to dangerous, major and minor defects explains the categories. For the inspection itself, see what an MOT checks.

What if the record looks wrong or incomplete?

First recheck the registration and vehicle identity. A recent test, imported vehicle or changed registration can require clarification. Contact the test centre about a result or recording issue and use the official correction process where applicable; do not alter your documents to match an assumption.

The public history service has different coverage for older tests and Northern Ireland. Its limits are explained on GOV.UK. Missing history is a reason to investigate, not evidence of fraud on its own.

Plan the next test and reminder

For a usual GB renewal, testing within one month minus a day before expiry preserves the renewal date. Earlier testing changes it. Use our early MOT examples before picking a slot.

Eligible drivers can use the free government reminder service. Check the contact details and keep your own calendar entry too. Northern Ireland uses a separate reminder process.

What if the MOT has expired?

Do not continue normal road use. Limited journeys for a pre-arranged test or repairs do not override roadworthiness or insurance requirements. If the car is unsafe, arrange suitable assistance. Read the rules on driving without an MOT and how MOT status affects vehicle tax.

Related reading

• Finding and booking an MOT test near you
• Local drop-off or MOT collection
• What happens during a car MOT test

Official guidance

GOV.UK: when to get an MOT; the official status, history and reminder services are linked above.

Substantively updated 24 October 2026. General guidance for Great Britain; Northern Ireland has different testing rules and processes.