Terms of use
These terms of use set out the rules for using MOT Check Online, including the free vehicle checks, the guides and the contact form. By using the site, you agree to them, so please take a few minutes to read them. We’ve kept the language plain, and the summary below covers the points that matter most.
Last updated: 16 October 2026 · Read alongside our privacy policy
Our terms of use in brief
The short version
The checks are free for personal and business use, within fair limits. We show official DVSA and DVLA data as supplied, but we can't guarantee it's error-free, and a check is no substitute for inspecting a vehicle. Please don't scrape or bulk-copy the site. These terms follow the law of England and Wales.
Who these terms of use are with
MOT Check Online is run by Hamza Akram, an individual based in the United Kingdom. When these terms say "we", "us" or "our", they mean Hamza, trading as MOT Check Online. When they say "you", they mean anyone who uses the site.
You can contact us through the contact page or by email at hamzaakram789@gmail.com. We're an independent service and aren't connected to the DVSA, the DVLA or any government department.
Using the vehicle checks
You're welcome to use our checks whenever you have a reason to look up a vehicle, for example when buying, selling, owning or insuring one. Both private individuals and motor traders can use them free of charge.
Even so, a registration belongs to someone's vehicle. So please use the information responsibly. You mustn't use our checks to harass, track or identify a vehicle's keeper, or for any unlawful purpose.
Fair use: what you must not do
To keep the service fast and free for everyone, our terms of use don't allow you to:
- Use automated tools. That includes bots, scrapers, crawlers and scripts that run checks or copy report pages, other than ordinary search engine crawlers.
- Make bulk lookups. Each connection can run around 40 checks an hour. Please don't try to get round this limit, for example by switching IP addresses.
- Resell or republish our reports. You can't sell our reports, or copy them in bulk into another website, app or database.
- Pass off a report as official. A printout from our site isn't an MOT certificate or a DVLA document, so don't present it as one.
- Attack the site. That means no attempts to break our security, overload our servers or add malicious code.
If you break these rules, we may block your access without notice. If you need data in volume for a business, DVSA and DVLA offer their own services for approved organisations, and we're happy to point you towards them.
How accurate the information is
Our reports show records from the DVSA MOT History API and the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service exactly as those agencies supply them. Our data sources page describes each one. However, the agencies themselves don't guarantee that every record is complete or correct, and neither can we. In addition, we keep each result for up to six hours, so a very recent change may take a short while to appear.
An MOT certificate only shows that a vehicle met the minimum legal standards on the day of its test. It isn't a guarantee of the vehicle's condition afterwards. Likewise, our guides give general information about rules and records, not legal, financial or mechanical advice for your situation.
Before you buy a vehicle
Never rely on an online check alone. Check the V5C logbook against the vehicle, see it in daylight, take a test drive and, ideally, ask a qualified mechanic to inspect it. Our free checks don't cover outstanding finance, insurance write-offs or theft records.
Your responsibilities
You're responsible for the decisions you make using our information, such as whether to buy a vehicle. You're also responsible for keeping your own vehicle legal: taxed, insured and with a valid MOT where one is needed. If our site shows something you don't expect, check it with the official source before you act, or ask us and we'll explain.
Our content and intellectual property
Our text, guides, explanations, page design, illustrations, charts and logo belong to MOT Check Online. You may share links to any page, and you may quote short extracts for non-commercial purposes as long as you credit us and link back. Otherwise, please ask before you copy our content.
The vehicle records themselves are public sector information. They're available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and you can reuse them from the official sources under that licence. Car makers' names and badges belong to their owners, and we show them only to identify vehicles.
Adverts and other websites
The site carries adverts from Google AdSense, which keep the checks free. An advert isn't a recommendation from us, and any deal you make with an advertiser is between you and them. Similarly, we link to other websites, mostly GOV.UK. We're not responsible for their content or for how they handle your information.
Messages you send us
Please keep messages lawful and respectful. We won't reply to abusive messages, and we may block senders who repeatedly send spam. Our privacy policy explains how we handle what you send.
Availability and changes to the service
We work hard to keep the site running. Nevertheless, it's a free service, and we can't promise it will always be available or free of faults. Our checks also depend on DVSA and DVLA services, which sometimes go offline for maintenance. We may change, add or remove features at any time.
Liability under these terms of use
Nothing in these terms of use limits our liability where the law doesn't allow it. That includes death or personal injury caused by negligence, and fraud. It also doesn't affect your legal rights as a consumer.
Apart from that, the site and its information are provided for your private use, free of charge. Because of that, we're not liable for any loss that wasn't a foreseeable result of us breaking these terms or failing to use reasonable care. If you use the site for business, we're not liable for loss of profit, loss of business or business interruption.
Changes to these terms of use
We may update these terms of use from time to time, for example when we add a new feature or the law changes. The date at the top shows when they last changed. If you keep using the site after an update, the new terms apply.
Law and disputes
These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. If a dispute arises, the courts of England and Wales can hear it. However, if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can also bring proceedings in your local courts. Before that, please contact us, because most problems can be sorted out quickly by talking.
Terms of use: frequently asked questions
Can I use MOT Check Online for my car business?
Yes. Dealers and traders can use the checks free of charge, within the fair-use limit of around 40 checks an hour. For larger volumes, you'll need your own access to the official DVSA and DVLA services.
Can I print or share a report?
Yes, for your own use, for example to show a seller or a mechanic. Just don't present it as an official MOT certificate or DVLA document.
Is a report from MOT Check Online legal proof of a vehicle's history?
No. It shows official records, but the authoritative versions sit with DVSA and DVLA. For official proof, use GOV.UK's services or the documents themselves.
What happens if I break these terms?
We may block your access to the site. For serious misuse, such as attacks on our systems, we may also report it to the relevant authorities.
By using the site, you agree to these terms of use. If anything here is unclear, please ask us and we'll explain it.