How do I check if a vehicle has a valid MOT?

You can check any UK-registered vehicle's MOT status in under a minute using its registration number — no permission from the owner is needed, since MOT records are public.

What a basic MOT check shows:

• Current MOT status and expiry date
• Mileage recorded at the last test
• Any advisories or failures noted at the last test

This is a useful first step before buying a used car, hiring a vehicle, or confirming your own car is legal to drive. That said, MOT status on its own only tells part of the story — it won't show you finance owed on the car, whether it's been in a serious accident, recorded as stolen, or has a mismatched mileage history. For a full picture before handing over money, it's worth pairing an MOT check with a broader vehicle history check that covers these other risk areas too.

If a vehicle shows no MOT history at all, it's likely under 3 years old (and therefore exempt) — but it's worth double-checking the registration date, since a missing history can occasionally also mean the car has been off the road (SORN) or newly imported.