Most people who use a vehicle checker want to know three things. What happens to the registration number I type in, will my email be used for anything else, and can I get my details removed. This page answers those questions in plain language. It is a summary written to help you understand our approach, and it works alongside the full privacy policy and cookie policy, which are the formal documents. Nothing here is legal advice.
What happens when I enter a registration number
When you enter a registration number, we send it to the official DVSA and DVLA services to fetch the vehicle record, then show you the result. That is the purpose of the entry. A registration number identifies a vehicle, and we use it to look up that vehicle. Our how we get our data page lists the fields that come back.
We do not ask you to prove you own the vehicle, because the data we show is the same kind of vehicle information anyone can look up. This is also why it is sensible to check a car you are thinking of buying, a car you already own or a car you are insuring.
Do you show who owns a vehicle
No. The official services we use do not provide keeper or owner names, addresses or contact details, so we cannot display them, and we would not display them if we could. A result describes the vehicle, not the person. If you see a result for someone else’s car, you are seeing only the vehicle’s public technical and test record.
Do you show finance, stolen or write-off information
No. That data is not in the official sources we use. If you are buying a car and need it, use a provider that states it covers those records. Our used car checklist explains what to ask for before you pay.
What do you do with my email address
If you sign up for an MOT reminder, we use your email address to send that reminder about the vehicle you chose. We store it for that purpose and no other. We do not use a reminder sign-up as permission to send you unrelated marketing. If you buy the Full Vehicle Report, we use your email address to send the link to your download and to deal with any question about your order.
Every reminder email should give you a way to stop receiving it. If you cannot find one, write to us through the contact page and we will remove you.
Do you share my data
Running a website normally involves service providers, such as hosting, email delivery and payment processing. Where a provider handles personal data for us, it does so to deliver the service. We do not sell personal data. The privacy policy lists the categories of provider and the purposes in detail, and it is the document to read if you need precision.
What cookies do you use
Cookies are small files stored by your browser. Some are needed for the site to work, and others may be used to understand how pages are used. The cookie policy lists the cookies and what each is for, and explains how to change your choices. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, although parts of the site may then work less smoothly.
Can I ask you to delete my data
Yes. Under UK data protection law, you have rights over personal data held about you, including the right to ask for access to it and for its correction or deletion in the circumstances the law provides. To make a request, use the contact page. Tell us what you want us to do and which email address or order is concerned. We may need to confirm that the request comes from you before acting on it, because we do not want to delete or reveal anything on the strength of a request from someone else.
If you only want a reminder stopped, say so and we will remove that sign-up. If you want everything we hold removed, say that instead. Some records, such as payment records, may need to be kept for a period for legal or accounting reasons, and we will explain if that applies.
Can I check my own vehicle without leaving a trace
Using the free checks does not require an account. We process the registration number to return the result, and the privacy policy explains what is logged for security and service reasons. If you prefer not to share anything, the official GOV.UK service for checking MOT history is an alternative.
Is any of this advice on my legal rights
No. This page describes how we approach privacy so that you can decide whether to use the service. It is written with UK data protection principles in mind, such as collecting only what we need and using it only for the purpose we gave. It is not legal advice, and where it differs from the privacy policy, the privacy policy governs. If you are unsure about your rights, you can read the guidance published by the Information Commissioner’s Office or take independent advice.
It is also worth knowing what we ask of you. Please enter only registration numbers and email addresses you are entitled to use, and do not send us documents containing personal details unless we have asked for them.
Who is responsible for your data
MOT Check Now is run by MOT Check Now. Our contact details are on the about page. We are independent and are not part of DVLA, DVSA or GOV.UK.
Where to find more
For how we write and correct content, read the editorial policy. For the limits of what a result can tell you, see the disclaimer. If your question is not covered, ask through the contact page.