Check a vehicle's MOT status and history.
Check whether a vehicle has a valid MOT, when it expires and its recorded MOT history. Northern Ireland test results are available online for tests carried out since December 2017.
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.
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.
PureCar last checked this information against official DVA / NI Direct guidance on 21 September 2026. Availability, fees and DVA rules can change.
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