Why is this important?
There is a problem with the MOT of the car you bought
When you buy a car, it may come with an MOT certificate. If the seller told you that the car had an MOT but you find out it doesn’t, you can insist they get one for you or ask for your money back. The same applies if you find out that the MOT is not valid for as long as you were told.
This page tells you what you can do if you think you’ve been misled about the MOT of the car you bought.
Top tips
Does your car need an MOT?
If you buy a car that's less than three years old, it doesn't need an MOT certificate.
Did the seller tell you the car had an MOT?
Information about whether or not a car has an MOT forms part of the description of the car. If the seller tells you it has an MOT but you find out later that it doesn’t, the seller has given you a false description. You can ask for the mistake to be put right or for your money back.
This applies to both dealers and private sellers, even if they have made a genuine mistake.
If the seller told you that the car did not have an MOT but you bought it anyway, they have done nothing wrong. It is your responsibility to arrange and pay for the MOT yourself before you can use the car on the road.
Getting an MOT done
If the seller told you the car has an MOT and it doesn’t, you can:
- insist they get an MOT for you, or
- arrange an MOT yourself and ask the seller to pay. The seller will be responsible for both the cost of the MOT test and any work on the car that's needed to pass the MOT.
Contact the seller to explain the situation and ask them to put things right. If they refuse to get the MOT done, you can make a complaint.
If you bought the car from a dealer, they may also have committed a criminal offence by telling you there was an MOT when there wasn't. Report them to Trading Standards.
Getting your money back
Contact the seller to explain the situation and ask them to put things right. If they refuse to get the MOT done, you can make a complaint.
If you think the MOT certificate is not genuine
You can check the MOT status of a car on the central government database. If the MOT certificate turns out to be false, the seller may have committed a criminal offence. Report them to Trading Standards.
To check the validity and expiry date of an MOT, call the MOT Enquiry Service, telephone 0870 330 0444. You will need the registration number and either the MOT certificate number or number on the registration certificate (V5C).
- You can also check online at www.motinfo.gov.uk.
Extra protection if you paid with credit
If you find you are getting nowhere with the seller of the car, you might have some extra options if you paid for the car on credit or with a debit or credit card.
Next steps
- What to do if some of the paperwork for your car is missing
- More help on what to do if the car you bought doesn’t match its description
- If you need more help
Other useful information
- More information about MOT testing from www.gov.uk.