MOT history red flags every buyer should check

1. Check the mileage progression between tests

Because a mileage figure is recorded at every MOT, the gov.uk history gives a rough yearly mileage trail you can sanity-check against the seller's claims.

• List each recorded mileage against its test date and check the trend rises steadily year on year
• Flag any reading that goes down, even slightly, between two tests
• Flag any year with an unusually small mileage increase compared with the rest of the car's history
• Compare the most recent MOT mileage with the mileage advertised now — a big gap needs explaining
• Check the mileage recorded matches what's on the current dashboard when you view the car

2. Look for recurring advisories

Advisories are faults noted but not failed on, and the same advisory reappearing over several tests usually means it was never properly fixed.

• Note any advisory (e.g. corrosion, oil leak, tyre wear) that appears in two or more consecutive tests
• Pay particular attention to repeated structural corrosion or brake advisories, as these tend to worsen
• Check whether an advisory suddenly disappeared without an obvious repair — it may have been overlooked rather than fixed
• Cross-reference recurring advisories against what the seller tells you has been repaired
• Ask to see invoices for any advisory the seller claims has been addressed

3. Check for sudden or unusual failures

A test history that shows a long run of clean passes followed by a sudden multi-point failure can indicate a hard life, an accident, or deferred maintenance catching up.

• Look for a fail with several unrelated fault categories logged at the same test
• Check the date of any fail against the seasons — sudden corrosion failures after winter can indicate poor underbody protection
• Note if a car has failed on the same system (e.g. suspension, brakes) more than once across its life
• Check whether a fail was followed by a retest on the same day or within a few days, suggesting a quick, possibly minimal, repair
• Look for gaps of more than 13-14 months between tests, which may indicate the car was off the road or unused

4. Cross-check test dates against ownership gaps

Combining the MOT date history with the number of previous keepers on the V5C can highlight periods of neglect or a car that changed hands quickly after a problem.

• Check for a long gap between MOTs that aligns with a change of keeper on the V5C
• Look for a car sold shortly after a major, expensive-sounding failure
• Check test locations for consistency — a car tested in several different regions in a short period can suggest a trade vehicle moving through auctions
• Note whether test mileage jumps unusually just before a sale, which can indicate preparation work or a clocking attempt
• Ask the seller directly about any gap or change you can't explain from the record

5. Use the history alongside a recalls and category check

MOT history doesn't show outstanding safety recalls or write-off markers, so it should be checked alongside DVSA recalls data and a full HPI-style history check.

• Check the DVSA vehicle recalls service using the registration for any outstanding safety recall
• Run a full history check to check for category S, N, A or B write-off markers
• Check the V5C document reference matches the one on record with DVLA
• Confirm the tax and MOT status shown on gov.uk matches what the seller has told you
• Keep a screenshot or printout of the MOT history for your records before you view the car

Frequently asked questions

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