The importance of the DVLA MOT history site

[AndrewBrown]

just looking for a 440 for my partner
and found this on ebay and its on gumtree

Genuine 29000 miles one owner etc

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1994-L-VO...IAAOSwyQtV1Qv9

then I checked the mot history last mot 55,628 miles either the dealer does not realise and thinks its genuine or they have been duped, looks a good 440 though

you should use the DVLA site every purchase

[TheLeeds]

Originally Posted by AndrewBrown

just looking for a 440 for my partner
and found this on ebay and its on gumtree

Genuine 29000 miles one owner etc

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1994-L-VO...IAAOSwyQtV1Qv9

then I checked the mot history last mot 55,628 miles either the dealer does not realise and thinks its genuine or they have been duped, looks a good 440 though

you should use the DVLA site every purchase

Are you sure about that ? I was just on the check mot site so I put that reg plate in and it says mileage at last mot (on 17 July 2015) was 29,451. I noticed in the ebay ad it says 12 months mot, and I'm not sure if this means new mot issued on purchase, or it's just been done and the check mot site hasn't been updated yet.

That site for checking mot history is very useful. It's saved me from a few motor nightmares. I was looking at a Merc 500 SEL once and reading the details on that site revealed a recurring brake problem.

Another time, there was a Bentley Turbo R for sale, and given that they can be extremely labour intensive and parts cost more than a house, I looked it up, from which I got the impression someone had really struggled to get an MOT on it. It showed 3 failures in the space of a month, and eventually a pass. Unfortunately the site no longer shows which testing station did the test, otherwise it would have been interesting to see if someone was shopping around for the most lenient place.

I'm sorry sir. Your car's failed the MOT. Because it's $hit.

[AndrewBrown]

Originally Posted by AndrewBrown

just looking for a 440 for my partner
and found this on ebay and its on gumtree

Genuine 29000 miles one owner etc

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1994-L-VO...IAAOSwyQtV1Qv9

then I checked the mot history last mot 55,628 miles either the dealer does not realise and thinks its genuine or they have been duped, looks a good 440 though

you should use the DVLA site every purchase

Originally Posted by TheLeeds

Are you sure about that ? I was just on the check mot site so I put that reg plate in and it says mileage at last mot (on 17 July 2015) was 29,451. I noticed in the ebay ad it says 12 months mot, and I'm not sure if this means new mot issued on purchase, or it's just been done and the check mot site hasn't been updated yet.

That site for checking mot history is very useful. It's saved me from a few motor nightmares. I was looking at a Merc 500 SEL once and reading the details on that site revealed a recurring brake problem.

Another time, there was a Bentley Turbo R for sale, and given that they can be extremely labour intensive and parts cost more than a house, I looked it up, from which I got the impression someone had really struggled to get an MOT on it. It showed 3 failures in the space of a month, and eventually a pass. Unfortunately the site no longer shows which testing station did the test, otherwise it would have been interesting to see if someone was shopping around for the most lenient place.

You are correct I have just checked again and the details are showing as you say and not as I have said so its now correct as per details but when I looked at the DVLA site today 22/05/18 at 15:08 hours the site was listing as 55,628 miles.

My appoligies to everyone it seems you cant trust the DVLA mot history checker because i have done it today twice with different results.

****UPDATE*****UPDATE*****UPDATE*****UPDATE*****UP DATE*****UPDATE*****UPDATE*****UPDATE*****UPDATE** ***

NOW I can tell you the real reason for the discrepancy in the mileage ..I checked again and it turns out better if the person who enters the reg number can actually count and type L336SKC is wrong and L366SKC is correct, weirdly both cars are white volvo 440
Don't I feel stupid now !!!

still a good idea to look at the dvla site when buying ......if you can get the registration correct unlike me (idiot!!)

[volvoid]

y have to read all the mots on available, its not uncommon to find an mot tester who cant type, lots of mileage errors as they miss a digit, get them in the wrong order etc.

[TheLeeds]

Originally Posted by AndrewBrown

...........
still a good idea to look at the dvla site when buying ......if you can get the registration correct unlike me (idiot!!)

Easy mistake to make. I recently ordered some HT leads for my M reg 940 wentworth. Unfortunately I got the registration number one digit out, and when the leads turned up (very nice local motor factors deliver to the door) they looked great, but the connectors on the cap ends were different. The number I'd given them must have been for a volvo, but it wasn't mine. The correct leads were twice the price as well.

I got accused of being in an accident once when I had a 5 series BMW, even though it was off the road having MOT work done. My insurer wanted to charge me double at renewal time, until I got the claims reference number and did a bit of checking. It turned out the other vehicle involved was actually a Ford Sierra, and they'd been given an incorrect registration number.

[capt jack]

Reading back through the MoT history is essential. In my recent searches I had a bit of an open mind as to what I wanted, and looked at E-Class Mercs, Jaguar XJs, Range Rovers and BMW 5 series cars - and of course I ended up buying an S90!

What amazed me was the number of cars that failed an MoT on "severe corrosion" one day, only to be given a "Pass" the very next day, and then was being advertised as "mint". I can only think that the seller had in mind the variety of mint that has a hole in the middle!

With the best will in the world I find it odd to think that a car can be so rusty as to fail an MoT on Monday, and then repaired and back on the road on Tuesday.

Unless an older car has pretty much a clean MoT history then I'd avoid it. And a car that's repeatedly failed on bald tyres or non-working lamps suggests to me that the previous owner didn't actually take much care.

Jack

[Marty Dolomite]

Originally Posted by AndrewBrown

if the person who enters the reg number can actually count and type L336SKC is wrong and L366SKC is correct, weirdly both cars are white volvo 440
Don't I feel stupid now !!!

(idiot!!)

I feel your pain, just 'taxed' a car online, details not recognised, try again, nope, try again, nope but then I entered the correct reg as its accepted it.
I was typing SAG184G, SAC184G, SAG164G, then SAC164G.I was just about to phone the DVLA

[Marty Dolomite]

Originally Posted by capt jack

With the best will in the world I find it odd to think that a car can be so rusty as to fail an MoT on Monday, and then repaired and back on the road on Tuesday.

Unless an older car has pretty much a clean MoT history then I'd avoid it. And a car that's repeatedly failed on bald tyres or non-working lamps suggests to me that the previous owner didn't actually take much care.

Jack

Severe corrosion can mean a small patch near the jacking point etc, easily sorted within a day.

[Dippydog]

The DVLA system can at times still be flawed but it's still better than "flying blind"when it comes to a prospective purchase.

[GreenBrick]

Originally Posted by Marty Dolomite

Severe corrosion can mean a small patch near the jacking point etc, easily sorted within a day.

This is true, I have taken a car home at close of business one day with a fail and had it passed at opening the next morning with a busy evening in between!