CarVeto MOT history check

CarVeto MOT history is gathered directly from DVLA for any qualifying UK registered vehicle (more than 3 years old).

Start with a free vehicle check. All you need is a car reg for an instant result.

Once you have accessed your CarVeto, scroll near the bottom of the report to find historical MOT data.

This part of a CarVeto is hugely important for a healthy, reliable car that is roadworthy and a decent investment.

Look out for two major components of the check:

• MOT failures
• MOT advisories

DVLA MOT failure declarations

The failure section tells you why the car didn’t pass its MOT. It could be something as small and inexpensive as a sidelight bulb or it could be something major like a driveshaft or leaky power steering rack.

Either way, the parts must have been replaced for the car to be deemed roadworthy and MOT fit.

MOT advisories

More attention should be paid to advisory items. Defining advisory:

advisory

ədˈvʌɪz(ə)ri/
adjective
having or consisting in the power to make recommendations but not to act enforcing them.

This means that parts of the car are ideally replaced, but they are not mandatory for the car to be roadworthy or to pass an MOT test.

CarVeto recommends looking at the existing and one previous valid MOT certificate to see if any advisory items are listed. In many cases, an advisory item becomes a failing in the next MOT test and the owner will be liable for this repair bill.

If a rear trailing arm rubber bush or TCA (traction control arm) bush was listed as an advisory in the 2018 MOT, but not replaced, it will almost certainly need to be replaced on the subsequent MOT.

If you buy the car it will be yourself that is paying for the replacement part.

TCA bushes are not expensive to buy or fit but driveshafts or shock absorbers can be. A thorough MOT history check via your CarVeto will potentially save you time and money.

When buying a used car from a dealership

Useful tips for saving money

CarVeto suggests that when buying from a car dealer that you insist on a new, 12-month MOT as part of the deal. Most salesmen will have no hesitation if you buy their car.

Now we know how severe MOT advisories can be so it is well worth insisting that the MOT include a ‘zero advisory item list’. This type of request is unusual but well worth asking for. Do you really want to buy a new car with a new DVLA MOT check only to find a handful of items that will need replacing in a years’ time?

Find more useful information and guides on used car history and MOT checks.