If you are looking to buy a new Land Rover or have recently acquired one but want a little more information about its MOT history, you might be scratching your head wondering where you can find details of its past successes and failures. Luckily, it is all quite quick and simple and a quick visit to the gov.uk website allows you to check the ten-year MOT history of the Land Rover you own or wish to purchase.
In this edition of our blog, we look at how to check an MOT history so you can be fully aware of your Land Rover’s backstory before you decide to buy or sell.
Can you check MOT history online?
Yes. It’s a quick and easy process. Simply head to the Gov.uk website where an MOT portal presents you with a wealth of information. You’ll be able to discover its passes and fails, when the MOT expires, whether a valid MOT still applies, whether there are or have been any advisory notes made during MOT assessments and what the mileage was when the check was done.
All that you need in order to access this information is the registration number and the 11-digit code in the logbook. The records stored on the Gov.uk site stretch back 10 years so it should be easy to find a detailed MOT history.
There are also other sites which offer checks on MOT history but many of these also come with costs for you to unlock other specific elements of the vehicle history.
Why should I check the MOT history?
As with most large purchases, you always want to know that the money being spent is being spent wisely and an MOT helps validate this expenditure.
Checking the MOT history of a Land Rover before you buy it will help you discover whether there are or have been any serious issues with the vehicle. Armed with this info, you can assess whether you feel the Land Rover has been well looked after or has just started to show its age.
With the mileage also being shown as part of the check, you get a good idea of whether the vehicle is used frequently or not. From this information, you may be able to determine if the vehicle has been perhaps pushed to its upper limit or barely seen the road.
Another reason you should check the MOT history is to see whether you are likely to be footing the bill for an MOT the moment you buy the vehicle. All Land Rovers that are three or more years old require a valid MOT certificate, otherwise, they can’t be driven. Perhaps even more concerning is that if you were to buy a vehicle without an MOT, have one done, and then discover there are multiple issues, you could face a large bill to fix the issues that are found.
Finally, by checking the MOT history, you can see whether there is a history of recurring problems and whether any advisories were recorded, or immediate repairs were required.
Why would a car have a missing MOT history?
As we touched upon above, every Land Rover, in fact, every vehicle, that is 3 or more years old requires an MOT for it to be allowed on the road. An inconsistent or non-existent MOT history could raise concerns for a potential buyer. The reasons for a patchy MOT history could vary but it would be expected that if a previous owner has not booked MOTs for some time, they may have had some concerns about the condition of the vehicle, or there may have been faults on an earlier MOT that were too expensive to fix at the time. There could also be patches in MOT history if the plates have changed. If a new registration plate has been issued for a vehicle, the MOT history linked to its previous plate might not show.
Remember, if an MOT history is not showing, it could also be due to the age of the vehicle.
Is it worth checking the service history of a Land Rover too?
The service history is a good way to see whether the servicing of the Land Rover is up to date. Much like seeing gaps in the MOT history, a gap in service history could be a red flag for issues with the vehicle that might cost a lot to fix, or in some cases not even be repairable.
If you have a Land Rover and require a Land Rover MOT, speak to our team at RCV. As independent Land Rover specialists, we put high-quality service and low costs at the core of what we do. Based in Kent but assisting Land Rover owners from across the whole of the south of England, we keep you on the road all year long. Contact us today to see how affordable we are!