A MOT History Check Cannot Tell You Everything About a Car

MOT inspections aren't going to be popular anytime soon. They can, however, be extremely beneficial. It can warn you of possible threats for your personal safety if you're a motorist. 

As a buyer, the free MOT history check illuminates any potential flaws or problems with the vehicle. We've included all you need to know about it in one post so you can get the most out of it.

An MOT check is an annual inspection to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive on UK roads. It's good for a year and may be renewed up to a month before it runs out.

It primarily checks two essential areas: 

1.     Whether your vehicle is safe

2.     If it complies with environmental regulations

An MOT takes anything from three quarters of an hour to sixty minutes to complete. While you wait, you may be able to get your automobile examined. However, if the technician discovers major problems with the car, she will be forced to repair it. Depending on the severity of the problems, you may need to purchase a new vehicle.

Many underlying issues can be discovered during a MOT examination. It can provide you with useful information on the following topics, among others:

·       Problems with your car's lighting. They must be exactly aligned and the appropriate colour.

·       Suspension and steering.

·       This is for your own safety as well as the safety of other road users.

·       Levels of emissions: Your vehicle must comply with all applicable environmental regulations.

The MOT inspection has lately gotten considerably harsher following a comprehensive makeover. The new MOT test mostly checks the same areas as the old one, but it does so more comprehensively.

If you're planning to purchase a car, the free MOT history check might help you figure out what you need to know. It can reveal how many times the car has failed a MOT in the past, what the reasons were, and how dedicated the previous owner was to get everything back in order. As a result, it may influence your decision to buy or not buy the vehicle.

How to Check MOT History Correctly

You can check MOT history of a vehicle for the duration of its life. If you're looking to buy a car, this is a great open source of information.

You may also look at 'advisory items' and 'failure items' in addition to verifying chronological mileages to ensure they match up appropriately.

What are the differences between advisory and failure items, and why are they important?

Items that have failed

During a retest, you can see what sections of a car failed during prior MOT testing and what parts should have been replaced or fixed.

Even better, garage bills that make up the service history provide proof of those fixes.

Advisory items

The most important aspect of a MOT inspection is the advice information (or advisories).

When buying a car, check MOT status and look at the two most recent MOT tests to see whether there are any warnings.

VOSA MOT certificate advisory items definition

The vehicle owner may not change advisory items because they are not a legal requirement for roadworthiness.

If the vehicle is likely to be sold before its next MOT test, this is frequent.

If you acquire the automobile, such features are likely to fail their following MOT and become legal roadworthiness requirements. You are then responsible for the repair charges as the owner.

This suggests that in the not-too-distant future, there will be uncertainty and even high costs. Items that were recommended but not replaced are more prone to fail.

You can budget for repair expenses if you identify warnings on a MOT inspection before you buy. If brake discs and pads were recommended, we'd budget £250 to replace them.

Go online and search for MOT in Reading to see if you can speak to a MOT tester for further information.

Checking the MOT History: How to Avoid Scams When Purchasing a Used Car

Some vehicles have a mysterious past. There may be mechanical issues that aren't apparent during a test drive. Perhaps the second-hand vehicle you're considering has been in a horrible accident. It's possible that the seller owes the financing company money, or that the vehicle has been stolen. Any second-hand vehicle has more to it than meets the eye. That is why performing a MOT history check is so crucial.

MOT check

An MOT history check is simple to do. All you need is the vehicle's registration number. Then go to the gov.uk website's history check area. Enter the registration number to see if the vehicle has a valid MOT, which certifies that it was safe and roadworthy on the test date. You'll also get access to the car's test results dating back to 2005 (if the vehicle is old enough).

The genuinely relevant information isn't just whether or not a car passed. You'll be able to see if it failed the first time and required repairs to pass. You'll also discover if any 'advisories' were issued. These are problems with the vehicle that aren't severe enough to warrant a failure, but that will require treatment at some time. Minor oil leaks or damage to the bodywork are examples.

After you've looked through the MOT history, go to the 'Outstanding car recalls' section. This will reveal whether the vehicle requires immediate safety work as a result of a manufacturer's recall.

Vehicle History Check

The MOT history check will tell you a lot about a vehicle, but it will not tell you all there is to know about it. Search for 'car history check' to get a list of firms that can provide information on any vehicle's background. The precise service varies by organisation, however, a background check will usually answer the following questions:

·       Is it possible that the vehicle has been stolen?

·       Is the vehicle a total loss (damaged beyond economic repair)?

·       Is there any outstanding loan on the vehicle that might lead to it being repossessed?

·       Is the registration number different now?

It's probable that the MOT history will be examined as well, however this is something you can do yourself for free.

Check to see if the history check business guarantees the accuracy of its data, so you may sue for any money you lose if the check misses something critical.

In Person Checks

Although an online MOT and history check will cover a lot of territory, it's still a good idea to look over the paperwork that comes with the vehicle. Make that the VIN on the V5C logbook matches the VIN on the car, which can be found at the bottom of the dashboard and on the driver's side door. If the figures don't add up, turn away — something isn't right.

Make sure the name and address on the V5C paperwork match the name and address of the person you're buying from when buying from a private seller. If not, the vehicle may have been stolen, or you may be speaking with a dealer who is posing as a private seller in order to avoid their legal requirements.

Before you purchase a car, take it for a comprehensive test drive and inspect it thoroughly.

You may buy with confidence if you do these in-person checks properly, as well as a MOT history check.