Finding where an MOT was done

[R E S T E C P]

Given an MOT test number but not the actual certificate, is it possible to find out where the MOT was carried out?

I'm looking at a car on Autotrader with a suspiciously clean MOT history. 10 year old X-Type without ever having so much as an advisory! That would be quite a feat for an X-Type so I'd like to see if the MOT station is a trustworthy one before I go view the car.

[Al U]

15 seconds on google and I found this.

https://data.gov.uk/dataset/mot-active-vts

Hope it has what you're looking for.

[Krikkit]

R E S T E C P said:

I'm looking at a car on Autotrader with a suspiciously clean MOT history. 10 year old X-Type without ever having so much as an advisory! That would be quite a feat for an X-Type so I'd like to see if the MOT station is a trustworthy one before I go view the car.

It could be the kind of place that if you take it once a year for its service+MOT they effectively pre-MOT it when servicing to make sure everything is appropriate for the test, then it's an easy pass.

[TooMany2cvs]

R E S T E C P said:

Given an MOT test number but not the actual certificate, is it possible to find out where the MOT was carried out?

AIUI, an MOT tester can look it up, by requesting a replacement certificate.

I don't think I'd regard it as inherently suspicious, though.

[R E S T E C P]

Al U said:

15 seconds on google and I found this.

https://data.gov.uk/dataset/mot-active-vts

Hope it has what you're looking for.

Unfortunately not... I don't have the station number only the test number.

[R E S T E C P]

TooMany2cvs said:

I don't think I'd regard it as inherently suspicious, though.

10 years without ever having a blown bulb, worn wipers, worn/damaged tyres, a chip on the windscreen, worn brakes or worn suspension at MOT time... Seems suspicious for an X-Type which was never the most solid of cars. Most MOT stations I've visited put an advisory if my brake pads are more than 50% worn!

I suppose they could have looked after it incredibly well or done pre-MOT services as Krikkit said. Even then it would have to be a very generous station to not put any advisories for anything ever.

[Al U]

R E S T E C P said:

Unfortunately not... I don't have the station number only the test number.

Sorry, I misunderstood the question.

[ManOpener]

R E S T E C P said:

TooMany2cvs said:

I don't think I'd regard it as inherently suspicious, though.

10 years without ever having a blown bulb, worn wipers, worn/damaged tyres, a chip on the windscreen, worn brakes or worn suspension at MOT time... Seems suspicious for an X-Type which was never the most solid of cars. Most MOT stations I've visited put an advisory if my brake pads are more than 50% worn!

It's not unusual for garages who use a third party MOT tester who doesn't do any other work. I've had my MOT done at by the same garage for the last four years, they check it over for any obvious fails, rectify them with my permission and then test it. Never had a single advisory since using them.

[ARHarh]

Just sold my xtype with 180k on the clock and in the 5 years I owned it it never had an advisory or fail. In fact I have not had an advisory or fail in 17 years. I maintain my cars myself. I also check then before presenting them for an mot. I would be embarrassed if my car failed for a light not working.

[TooMany2cvs]

ARHarh said:

I also check then before presenting them for an mot. I would be embarrassed if my car failed for a light not working.

Quite.

I have a single page PDF checksheet, which I go over before taking anything for a ticket. Combine that with basic good maintenance, and any advisory or fail is a sign that you're not paying enough attention beforehand.

[snotrag]

Ditto.

If people think its normal to send a car in and get advisories for bulbs, wiprs, tyres etc, that's embarrassing.

I think I've had about 3 or 4 advisories on about 10 car in 12 years of driving.

[R E S T E C P]

snotrag said:

Ditto.

If people think its normal to send a car in and get advisories for bulbs, wiprs, tyres etc, that's embarrassing.

I think I've had about 3 or 4 advisories on about 10 car in 12 years of driving.

Advisories can depend on how strict/bored the tester is. I've had nonsense advisories filling up a full sheet like:
N/S/F pads slightly worn
N/S/R pads slightly worn
O/S/F pads slightly worn
O/S/R pads slightly worn
Couldn't check for corrosion because of trim panel
N/S/F tyre at 5mm
etc.

Maybe it's just where I go...

[anonymous-user]

ManOpener said:

It's not unusual for garages who use a third party MOT tester who doesn't do any other work. I've had my MOT done at by the same garage for the last four years, they check it over for any obvious fails, rectify them with my permission and then test it. Never had a single advisory since using them.

as above. garage I have used for the last 20 years does not have an MOT bay. I take all cars there for service work. MOT time, tell them to check it prior to MOT when they service it. never failed yet. I suppose it helps that the MOT garage is getting his customers / extra work also. didn't even get a pull on the small front number plate

[margerison]

I had read that the powers that be don't like it when MOT stations have too many passes...at least that what I told myself when one found my headlights were misaligned and realigned them!

[brman]

and I had 5 advisories and a fail for structural rust (hole I could get my hand through....) 1 week after a car passed an MOT with no advisories. MOTs are a bit of a lottery!

I think MOT history can be good to show what might be wrong with a car. But not good for showing what is not wrong with it.

Given what you said about the Jag though I would agree, It is almost certainly a garage that does a pre-mot and fix. That doesn't tell you what needed fixing but does at least tell you it was probably owned by someone who was not a cheapskate who chanced it every year. So a good thing my book.

[Kinky]

R E S T E C P said:

Given an MOT test number but not the actual certificate, is it possible to find out where the MOT was carried out?

I'm looking at a car on Autotrader with a suspiciously clean MOT history. 10 year old X-Type without ever having so much as an advisory! That would be quite a feat for an X-Type so I'd like to see if the MOT station is a trustworthy one before I go view the car.

My 11 year old X-Type had a 100% pass record for MOTs. It's not an `05 3.0 manual estate by any chance?

[sim16v]

Too many advisories - very suspicious, car must be knackered,

No advisories - too suspicious, might be dodgy.

Does anyone ever manage to buy a new car?

[Who me ?]

I always wonder if advisories are looking for work-
My car- 2006- Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)-- Odometer reading 14,739 miles , car registered February 2004. I've had this through the life of the car.
nearside front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)- Odometer reading 85,765 miles -date- 2015. I've had an RAC bloke look at discs- only problem is that the unswept part of the disc pad has rust on it.
And then

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Meaning- tester felt he could not remove child seat to check belt.
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Meaning- he was possibly too lazy to check under the car under tray.

[TooMany2cvs]

Who me said:

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Meaning- tester felt he could not remove child seat to check belt.

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
Meaning- he was possibly too lazy to check under the car under tray.

No, he's not actually allowed to remove either sprogseat or undertray.

As for the undertray... THIS is why they advise about it...
https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/horror-story-...

[sim16v]

Previously shown on here

Edited by sim16v on Thursday 14th July 23:49