1. Start with the latest MOT result
Check whether the latest test passed or failed and note every advisory or minor item. A recent pass is useful, but it only describes the vehicle at that test date and within the scope of the MOT.
2. Look for repeated advisories and failures
Repeated wording is often more informative than a single defect. If suspension, tyres, brakes or corrosion appears again and again, ask what has actually been repaired rather than assuming a later pass means the underlying maintenance story is perfect.
3. Read the mileage timeline
MOT records provide useful mileage points over time. The progression should broadly make sense. A backwards movement or an unexplained jump deserves investigation against service invoices, the dashboard reading and other records.
4. Separate routine wear from bigger warnings
Some MOT items are normal wear-and-tear costs; others can change whether the car is worth pursuing. Judge the wording, severity, repetition and repair evidence together rather than reacting to the word “advisory” alone.
5. Turn the history into seller questions
Ask what caused previous failures, whether recurring advisories were repaired, when tyres or brakes were replaced, and what paperwork supports the answer. Specific questions are more useful than asking only whether the car has “always passed”.
6. MOT history is evidence, not the whole verdict
A sensible MOT pattern is encouraging, but it does not confirm finance status, write-off history, service evidence, market value or current mechanical condition. Combine it with those checks and a physical viewing before you buy.
CarSussed approach: use the free MOT result as an entry point, then judge the car using the wider evidence before you commit money.
Start with the latest MOT — then get the car sussed.
The free CarSussed MOT check includes the available test history, mileage and advisories. The full report then uses the wider evidence to build the buyer decision.
Sources and limits
GOV.UK: what is available in MOT history.
The worked examples are illustrative. CarSussed’s buying guidance is an interpretation, not an official MOT finding or a physical inspection.