Question 1

Is MOTMate UK free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes — MOTMate is completely free. No signup, no account, no paywall. Enter a UK registration and you'll see the full MOT history and tax status.

Question 2

Where does the data come from?

Accepted Answer

MOT history comes from the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) MOT History API. Tax status, SORN, CO₂, Euro status and other vehicle details come from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) Vehicle Enquiry API. Both are official UK government data sources.

Question 3

How accurate is the information?

Accepted Answer

We display exactly what the DVSA and DVLA APIs return — we don't modify or estimate anything. For any critical decision (buying a car, checking your own MOT) we recommend verifying directly on gov.uk as well.

Question 4

Why is the tax status sometimes missing?

Accepted Answer

The DVLA Vehicle Enquiry API can occasionally be slow or temporarily unavailable. When that happens, we still show the MOT history and mark the tax section as 'unavailable'. Try again in a minute.

Question 5

What does 'SORN' mean?

Accepted Answer

SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. It's a declaration to the DVLA that a vehicle is being kept off the road and is therefore not taxed or insured for public use.

Question 6

When is my MOT due?

Accepted Answer

Your MOT is due on the same date each year that your current certificate expires. You can test up to one month (minus a day) before the expiry date and keep the original renewal date.

Question 7

What's the difference between MAJOR, MINOR, DANGEROUS and ADVISORY defects?

Accepted Answer

DANGEROUS and MAJOR defects cause an MOT failure — the vehicle is unsafe to drive (DANGEROUS) or has a serious defect (MAJOR). MINOR defects don't cause a failure but should be repaired soon. ADVISORY items are things to monitor that may become a problem later.

Question 8

Can I drive without a valid MOT?

Accepted Answer

No. It's illegal to drive a vehicle on a public road without a valid MOT, unless you're driving to a pre-booked MOT test or to a garage for repairs. Driving without one can result in a fine of up to £1,000, and your insurance may be invalidated.

Question 9

How often should I check my MOT?

Accepted Answer

We recommend checking around 30 days before your MOT is due so you have time to book a test. You can also use MOTMate to look up any used vehicle's history before buying.

Question 10

Do you store the registrations I look up?

Accepted Answer

We cache lookups very briefly (around 60 seconds) to keep things fast and reduce API costs. We don't build any profile of registrations you've looked up. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Question 11

Are you affiliated with the DVSA or DVLA?

Accepted Answer

No. MOTMate UK is an independent service that uses the public DVSA and DVLA APIs. We're not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any UK government body.

Question 12

I found an error — who do I contact?

Accepted Answer

Email info@motmateuk.com with the registration and a description of the issue. If the data itself is wrong, it would need to be corrected by the DVSA or DVLA directly via gov.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions