Strange MOT history

Nov 10, 2016 27 Replies
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It's usual to leave the engine running during an MOT to minimise the chance of a false fail on emissions. There would be little to inspect at the front of a vehicle.

Chris

I don't imagine you're actually tempted to think of buting this car, so isn't there a "report it" phone line or site for suspicious-looking MOT histories?

I don't know about that, but I think I understand what's going on. Because it's a private plate, the MOT history goes with the vehicle (ie its natural registration) but is also attributed to the private plate.

In other words, that private plate shows the MOT history of at least 3 vehicles.

If you look at the dates, there's one with MOT due in roughly August, which was first registered 2004. Next one has its MOT in March, first registered

2007. Last one is a taxi registered 2011, has MOTs in August and in January.

That doesn't completely tie up (I would have expected a continuous run of MOTs, while some of those are a month or so late) and I haven't looked at the pass/fail status, but I think the moral is that private plates' MOT histories are likely complicated. It also doesn't explain why it shows with no history on its current plate, unless the current plate isn't the natural registration, or something went wrong at DVLA.

Theo

Wouldn't the MOT be indexed to the Vehicle Identification Number rather than the car's registration?

I've had the same plate on 3 vehicles, and it hasn't happened here.

Of course if you just swap plates without telling the DVLA, who knows what could happen? ;-)

Yes, this site

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provides a detailed history of mot's with a different format to the open source data via DVSA. It shows you advisories etc also.

Really? Shows a lot less than the DVLA site, unless you pay.

Waste of money.

Shows advisories for mine FOR FREE.

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