Check a used car before you buy it

MOT history, mileage and the seller's claims, checked against the records. The current MOT status and condition are free for any UK car.

Registration number Check vehicle

Start with a reg check or see what an MOT history check tells you.

Free for every car

• The latest MOT result, with its defects and advisories
• MOT expiry and tax dates
• The mileage recorded at the latest MOT

Full report, 1 credit

One credit unlocks the full report for that plate for 30 days. Credits start at £2.99.

• Every MOT test, with every defect and advisory
• Mileage checks: every reading, against the advert and what is typical for the model
• The seller's claims in the advert tested against the records
• MOT problems grouped by part and placed on the car
• Signs of a cloned plate
• A checklist for the viewing and advice for this car

How it works

1. Plate, link or photo. Start from whatever you have: the registration, an advert link from any site, or a photo of the car.
2. Cross-checked. MOT tests, the registration record and the advert, side by side.
3. Know what to ask. Problems by part, red flags and a checklist for the viewing.

Where the facts come from

The DVSA MOT history, the DVLA registration record, the advert itself, and our analysis of millions of MOT tests across the whole fleet. See MOT pass rates by make and model and MOT defects explained.

Popular MOT model pages

Start with the models that have the most MOT tests in our 2023 dataset.

Ford Fiesta · Ford Focus · Ford Transit · Vauxhall Corsa · Volkswagen Golf · Vauxhall Astra · Volkswagen Polo · Nissan Qashqai · Toyota Yaris · Audi A3 · Mercedes-Benz C-Class · Renault Clio

Before you buy

Guides to reading an MOT history, spotting clocked mileage and what to check at a viewing. See all buyer guides.

From our research

Which parts of a used car will fail its next MOT, and what will it cost?: Twice as good as knowing the make and model at telling which used cars will fail their next MOT. The biggest clue is the car's own MOT record. More in our research.

Questions

Do I need the registration?

No. An advert link or a photo of the car is enough. If the advert hides the reg, we look for it in the advert's photos.

What is free, and what does a credit unlock?

Every check shows the car's current MOT status and condition for free: the latest result, its defects and advisories, the expiry, tax and recorded mileage. 1 credit unlocks the full report for that plate for 30 days.

What do the Outlook odds mean?

They are an estimate, not an inspection. They come from recorded MOT results and cannot confirm the car's condition today.

Where do the facts come from?

The DVSA MOT history, the DVLA registration record, the advert itself, and our analysis of millions of MOT tests across the whole fleet.

MOT pass rates by make and model · MOT defects explained · Used car buying guides · Used car research · Comparison hub · Cheapest car check UK · Best car check UK · RegTail vs carVertical · RegTail vs HPI · RegTail vs the AA · RegTail vs gov.uk · RegTail vs carwow · RegTail vs CarCheck · API