MOT Guides: Plain-English Help for UK Drivers
Our MOT guides explain the MOT, car tax, clean air zones and used car checks in plain English. Each guide answers the questions drivers actually ask, with the official rules checked against GOV.UK and the DVSA. And where a free check helps, we build it right into the page.
- Checked against GOV.UK and the DVSA
- Updated when the rules change
- Free, with no sign-up
Browse all our MOT guides
Find a guide by topic below, or type a word such as "tyres", "tax" or "ULEZ" to filter the list.
MOT guides
What the MOT checks, what it costs and what your results mean.
Driving, tax and emissions
Clean air zones, car tax and keeping a vehicle off the road.
Buying a used car
Checks to run before you hand over any money.
Free tools
Official DVSA and DVLA data, free and with no sign-up.
- MOT history check Every test, fail, advisory and mileage since 2005. Free tool
- MOT due date calculator When the MOT runs out and the earliest day to book. Free tool
- Free MOT reminders Emails before the MOT and car tax are due. Free tool
- Car tax check Is it taxed, and when is it due? Free tool
- Vehicle check Make, colour, engine, CO2 and Euro status. Free tool
Popular questions from our MOT guides
These are the questions we're asked most often. Each answer links to the full guide.
How much is an MOT?
The legal maximum is £54.85 for a car and £29.65 for a motorcycle, with no VAT. Many garages charge less. Our guide to how much an MOT costs lists every fee and when a retest is free.
What does an MOT advisory mean?
An advisory is a note about wear that isn't bad enough to fail yet, such as tyres close to the legal limit. You can still drive, but plan the repair. Our guide to MOT advisories decodes the common wording.
Is my car ULEZ compliant?
Usually, yes if it's a petrol car from 2006 or a diesel from September 2015. It depends on the Euro standard, though. Our free ULEZ check gives the answer for London and every clean air zone at once.
How do I check a car's MOT history?
Enter the registration in our free MOT history check. You'll see every test since 2005, with fails, advisories and the mileage at each one.
How we write our MOT guides
Every one of our MOT guides starts from the official source: GOV.UK, the DVSA's MOT inspection manual and the agencies that set the rules. Then, we write it in plain English and test every figure against that source. We never invent statistics, and when a rule is a rule of thumb, we say so.
We also date every guide. So, when fees, charges or tax rates change, we update the guide and the date at the top. Where a rule is about to change, such as a new tax year or a new clean air zone charge, we say what changes and when, so you can plan ahead. You can read the details in our editorial policy, and see where our vehicle data comes from on the data sources page.
Our guides are general information, not legal or financial advice, and we revisit them whenever the official rules or charges change. For a decision about a specific vehicle, check with the official service or a qualified mechanic.
Which of our MOT guides do you need?
Not sure where to start? Pick the situation that sounds like yours:
- Your MOT is due soon: start with how much an MOT costs, then do the quick checks in that guide so a simple fault doesn't fail the test.
- Your MOT result lists advisories: our MOT advisories guide explains each one and tells you what to fix first.
- You're driving into a city: run a ULEZ check to see whether you'd pay in London, Birmingham, Bristol or a Scottish low emission zone.
- You're buying a used car: read its full MOT history, check the mileage for signs of clocking and confirm it's taxed before you hand over any money.
In each case, the guide links to the free check that goes with it. So, you can move from reading to checking a real vehicle in one step, without signing up or paying for a report.
Free tools that go with the MOT guides
Reading about it is one thing, but checking a real car is often quicker. Our free tools use official DVSA and DVLA data and need no sign-up.
The MOT history check shows every test since 2005, and the MOT due date calculator tells you the earliest day to book.
The car tax check confirms whether a vehicle is taxed, while the mileage check looks for signs of clocking. Finally, free MOT reminders email you before your MOT and tax are due.
MOT guides: frequently asked questions
Are your MOT guides free?
Yes. Every guide and tool on the site is free to use, with no account or sign-up. Advertising pays for the site.
How often are the MOT guides updated?
We review each guide whenever the official rules change, and at least every six months. The date at the top of each guide shows when we last checked it.
Where do the facts in your guides come from?
From official sources first: GOV.UK, the DVSA's MOT inspection manual, DVLA and TfL. Each guide lists the sources we checked it against.
Which MOT guide should I read first?
If your MOT is coming up, start with how much an MOT costs and the checks to do before the test. If you've just had one, read our guide to MOT advisories to see what each note means and what to fix first.
Can you answer a question about my car?
We can't inspect a vehicle, but our free checks show its official MOT, tax and mileage records. For a mechanical question, ask a qualified garage. You can also contact us to suggest a guide.
Check any vehicle for free
Our MOT guides explain the rules. Now enter a registration to see a vehicle's MOT history, MOT expiry date, tax status and mileage, explained in plain English.