Check a vehicle's MOT
Enter a registration number to check available Northern Ireland MOT history, expiry dates, previous test results and recorded mileage.
What can you check?
The official history service can show the information recorded against the registration.
MOT expiry
See whether an MOT is current and when the recorded certificate expires.
Pass and fail history
Review previous MOT results recorded against the vehicle.
Recorded mileage
MOT history includes mileage recorded at individual tests, which can be useful when checking a used car.
What if the MOT has expired?
If the official check shows that the MOT has expired, use PureCar's booking page to see the DVA booking requirements and find a suitable vehicle test centre.
Buying a used car?
MOT history is one part of a used-car check. Compare the registration, vehicle identity and recorded mileage with the car you are inspecting.
PureCar will keep the MOT checker separate from future finance, write-off and provenance tools so each tool has a clear purpose.
MOT Check Northern Ireland
Check a Northern Ireland vehicle's MOT status and available MOT history using its registration number. PureCar is built specifically around Northern Ireland motorists and DVA testing.
DVA MOT history
Northern Ireland MOT tests are carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Agency. Available NI MOT history includes vehicle tests recorded from 2017 onwards.
Check MOT expiry
See the recorded MOT expiry date and latest available test result for the registration you are checking.
Check MOT mileage
Compare recorded odometer readings across previous MOT tests when assessing the history of a used vehicle.
What does an NI MOT check show?
Depending on the information held for the vehicle, the record can include make, model, fuel type, colour, MOT test dates, pass or fail results, expiry dates and recorded odometer readings.
For Northern Ireland vehicles, DVA NI test information is included within the official MOT history system.
DVA and DVSA MOT records
MOT testing in Northern Ireland is administered by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA). Great Britain MOT testing is overseen by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
PureCar remains focused on Northern Ireland, while the official MOT history system provides the underlying vehicle test records.
Northern Ireland MOT checker FAQs
How do I check an MOT in Northern Ireland?
Enter the vehicle registration above. PureCar checks the available MOT record when the live official connection is active.
Can I check DVA MOT history?
Yes. Northern Ireland DVA vehicle test records are included within the current MOT history service.
How far back does NI MOT history go?
Northern Ireland MOT information is available online for tests recorded from 2017 onwards.
Can I see previous MOT mileage?
Where an odometer reading was recorded at the MOT test, the history can show the mileage recorded at that test.
Can I see previous MOT failures?
Available test records can show whether an MOT test was recorded as passed or failed.
Is PureCar the DVA website?
No. PureCar is an independent Northern Ireland motoring website and is not part of DVA or the government.
Official MOT data for Northern Ireland
PureCar's live MOT checker uses the official MOT History API. The service includes Northern Ireland vehicle and MOT test records from 2017 onwards.
DVA Northern Ireland records
Northern Ireland vehicle tests are carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Agency. Records returned from those tests are identified as DVA NI within the official MOT history data.
Why some advisories are missing
The official API provides vehicle and test details for DVA NI records but does not supply defect or advisory details for those Northern Ireland tests. PureCar shows defect information when the official source provides it.
DVSA and DVA records together
A vehicle can have test records from more than one UK testing authority. PureCar keeps the source against each test so you can see whether a record came from DVA NI or DVSA.
Temporary MOT exemptions in Northern Ireland
Some eligible Northern Ireland private cars can receive a Temporary Exemption Certificate, extending the validity of an existing MOT without requiring another physical test during that period.
Eligibility rules can change, so motorists should check the current DVA and nidirect guidance rather than assuming an extension applies to their vehicle.
How fresh is the information?
The MOT checker requests the official vehicle history when you submit a registration. PureCar displays the information returned by the official service rather than creating an estimated MOT result.
What to look for when checking a vehicle
Do not look only at the latest pass. The sequence of MOT tests can give you useful information about how a vehicle has been used and maintained.
Mileage progression
Compare the mileage recorded at each available test. If the mileage unexpectedly falls or changes in a way that looks unusual, investigate it using service history and invoices.
Repeated faults
Look for similar failures appearing repeatedly. Recurrent problems with tyres, brakes, suspension, lighting or emissions can be useful information when inspecting a used vehicle.
Current expiry
Check that the current MOT status and expiry date match what the seller, advert or paperwork says about the car.
MOT history is not a complete car-history check
A valid MOT does not prove that a car has never been damaged, does not have outstanding finance and has no mechanical problems. MOT history records the vehicle's position against the test standards at particular points in time.
When buying a used car, combine MOT history with service records, vehicle identity checks, the physical condition of the vehicle and any additional provenance checks you consider appropriate.
