Mot history online only goes to 2018

[sandman77]

Can anyone shed some light on why the MOT history on a car would only go back as far as 2018?
I am thinking about viewing a 2009 car that is for sale but the when checking on https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history the history only goes back 3 years. The registration of the car is G6WLM.

[mike9009]

What was the registration in 2017? I don't know the mechanics but I suspect the private plate has something to do with it.....

[anonymous-user]

Change in plate shouldnt matter.

[cuprabob]

Private reg shouldn't make any difference to the MOT history.

Possibly the car was in Northern Ireland for a period prior to 2018. Their MOT system is different.

[riskyj]

Was it in Northern Ireland prior to 2018?

[Pica-Pica]

Would knowing the VIN help?

[sandman77]

Ah, I hadn’t thought about it being in NI. Wouldn’t it have a different format number plate though if that was the case? I guess the current plate could be a private(ish) plate.

[MercedesClassic]

I'm in NI and it sounds like the car was prior to those dates but ask the seller. The MOT here isn't listed online yet but it's conducted by government test centres not garages. The owner should have the paper certs from the previous tests which in the past few years also list advisories.

[wiliferus]

A 2009 Land Rover... I suspect MoT history will be the least of your troubles!

I jest, as stated, probably previously in NI. Have you checked HPi, possibly a full on import?
Maybe the seller will have physical paperwork of whatever annual checks have been done on it.