People use MOT Check Now to make decisions about real vehicles: whether to book a test, whether to walk away from a used car, whether a failed MOT is worth fixing. That makes accuracy more important than speed or volume. This editorial policy explains who writes the content on the site, where the facts come from, how pages are reviewed, what we will not do, and how to tell us when we have got something wrong.
Who writes the content
Every guide, explainer and tool page on MOT Check Now is written and maintained by the MOT Check Now editorial team, which works for MOT Check Now. We publish under the team name and do not attach invented author names, qualifications or biographies to our pages. If a page ever carries a named contributor, that person will be a real individual and the page will say what they contributed.
We are an independent publisher. We are not part of DVLA, DVSA, GOV.UK or any other public body, and nothing on the site should be read as official guidance. Our about page sets out who we are and how the service is funded.
Where our facts come from
For anything that can be checked against an official record or rule, we use official sources only. The sources we draw on are:
- GOV.UK for MOT rules, test fees, penalties, retest rules, exemptions, SORN, vehicle tax and the MOT inspection manual.
- DVSA for the MOT history service, its published data fields and its guidance for testers and the public.
- DVLA for the Vehicle Enquiry Service and the vehicle fields it makes available.
- nidirect for Northern Ireland, where the vehicle test is run by DVA under a separate system.
Where a figure matters, such as a maximum fee, a fine or a time limit, it comes from one of these sources and not from memory, a forum or another website. If we cannot confirm a number against an official source, we leave the number out and describe the rule in words. You will therefore see some guides that explain a rule without quoting a price. That is deliberate.
We do read other websites to understand what questions drivers are asking and where existing explanations fall short. We do not copy their wording and we do not use them as a source for facts.
How the writing is done
Pages are written in British English for ordinary drivers. We aim to answer the question in the first few paragraphs, explain the rule, and then cover the awkward cases that cause real problems, such as a test taken too early, an expired certificate or a defect that is classed as dangerous. We try to explain what a result means in practice and what a reasonable next step looks like.
Where our own tools produce an indicator, for example the mileage and history indicators, we say clearly that it is our analysis of official records. It is a prompt to ask questions. It is not a finding of fact about a vehicle or its history. The how we get our data page explains the method.
How often pages are reviewed
Rules and fees change. We review a page when the underlying official guidance changes, when a reader reports a problem, and as part of regular checks of the site. Guides that quote fees, penalties or time limits are the first to be rechecked. We do not promise that every page has been checked on a fixed date, and a page may be briefly out of step with a very recent change. Where a rule is date-sensitive, we link to the official page so you can confirm the current position before you rely on it.
Corrections
If you think something on the site is wrong, out of date or unclear, please tell us through the contact page. Include the page address, the sentence you are questioning and, if you can, the official source that shows the difference. We read every report.
When we confirm an error, we correct the page. If the mistake could have led a reader to a wrong decision, we make the correction visible and do not quietly change the text. We would rather admit a mistake than leave it in place.
Some problems sit in the official record and not on our site, for example a test result that looks wrong in the DVSA data. We cannot edit that record. We can explain the position and point you to the right body.
What we do not do
- We do not give legal advice. Our guides describe published rules in general terms. If you face a prosecution, a dispute with a garage or a contested penalty, take advice that fits your circumstances.
- We do not give mechanical advice. We explain what testers look at and what the defect categories mean. We cannot tell you whether your particular car is safe, and a qualified mechanic should inspect it if you are unsure. See our disclaimer.
- We do not sell rankings. No garage, insurer, finance company or product pays to appear in a list, to be placed higher or to be described more favourably on MOT Check Now.
- We do not publish invented evidence. We do not make up statistics, customer stories, reviews, awards or credentials. If a figure appears on the site, it has a source behind it.
- We do not claim official status. We do not use government logos or suggest endorsement.
Advertising and affiliate disclosure policy
At the time of writing, our free tools are free to use and our revenue comes from the paid Full Vehicle Report. If we ever add advertising, sponsored placements or affiliate links, the following rules will apply to them.
- Any link that earns us money will be labelled as such next to the link, and not hidden in a footer.
- Commercial relationships will not change what the facts say. A page that explains an MOT rule will say the same thing whether or not a partner could benefit.
- Advertising and affiliate links will not be added to pages in a way that makes them look like official guidance or like part of a check result.
- We will not accept payment in return for editorial coverage, positive wording or a place in a comparison.
- This policy will be updated before any such links go live, so you can see what has changed.
Related pages
For the detail behind the numbers shown by our tools, read how we get our data. For what happens to the registration numbers and email addresses you give us, see the data and privacy FAQ and the full privacy policy.