Compare Two Cars: See Which Has the Better MOT Record

• Vehicle basics. Make, model, year, fuel and colour, so you can confirm you are comparing like for like.
• MOT and tax. Whether each MOT is valid, when it expires and the tax status.
• Mileage. The last recorded reading, the average per year and the number of mileage red flags such as a fall or an unusual jump.
• Test record. How many tests are on record and how many were failures.
• Advisories. The number still open and the number that became failures, from our advisory tracker.
• History concern. A single indicator of Low, Moderate or Higher based on the recorded data.

1. Start with the records. Use this tool to rule out a car with a mileage drop or a history of failures.
2. Check each advert. Run each one through the seller claim checker to see whether the details match.
3. Inspect in person. Use our used car checklist.
4. Weigh price and condition. Records show history, not how the car drives today.

Two cars with the same price can have very different histories. Putting their MOT records side by side makes the differences obvious in a way that scrolling through two separate reports does not.

1. Start with the MOT status. A car with a long time left on its MOT saves you a test soon after you buy. A car about to expire needs a test, and possibly repairs, straight away.
2. Look at the failure history. One early fail that was fixed is normal. Repeated fails on the same item, such as brakes or suspension, suggest an ongoing problem.
3. Check the mileage trend. Mileage should rise steadily between tests. A sudden drop, or a year with almost no miles, deserves a question to the seller. The mileage check shows how this works.
4. Read the advisories. Advisories are warnings that something is wearing. Our guide to advisories explains which ones matter, and the advisory tracker shows whether they were fixed.
5. Compare the running costs. Engine size, fuel type and CO2 figures affect tax and, in some cities, charges. See the ULEZ checker.

“Fewer concerns” is a prompt, not a recommendation. It counts things like failed tests, expired MOTs, large gaps between tests and repeating advisories. If the two cars are very close, we say they are too close to call. If one car has too little history, for example a car under three years old that has not had a test yet, we tell you there is not enough data instead of guessing.

A clean MOT history does not mean the car is mechanically perfect. It cannot show engine condition, past accident damage or outstanding finance. Always inspect the car in person and ask for service records. Our used car checklist lists what to look for.