MOT Check NI (Northern Ireland)

How to check an MOT in Northern Ireland

Type the number plate into the box above. Northern Ireland test records come from the same official DVSA MOT History API as Great Britain records, and they go back to 2017.

1. Type the number plate and tap Check MOT. Spaces and small letters do not matter.
2. See whether the MOT is valid, the date it runs out and the days left.
3. Scroll down for each past test, with its result and the mileage recorded.

GOV.UK's Check MOT history service also shows Northern Ireland tests, for tests done since 2017. See where our MOT data comes from.

What the NI MOT check shows

The check shows the MOT status, each test result and the mileage for a Northern Ireland vehicle. It does not show defects or advisories for Northern Ireland tests, because the official data does not include them.

For a Northern Ireland vehicle, the result page shows:

• The make, model, colour and fuel type, when the record gives them.
• The MOT status in words (valid, due soon or expired), the date it runs out and the days left.
• Every test since 2017: the date, pass or fail, the mileage and the test ID.
• A mileage chart, with a warning if a reading is lower than an earlier one.
• The safety recall status, as the record gives it.
• A button to save an MOT reminder to your own calendar.

It does not show:

• Failure reasons. Each Northern Ireland test says: "Defect details are not provided for Northern Ireland tests."
• Northern Ireland tests from before 2017.
• Whether a vehicle is stolen, has outstanding finance or has been written off.

When is the first MOT due in Northern Ireland?

In Northern Ireland, cars and motorcycles are due their first MOT at four years old. In Northern Ireland, light goods vehicles are tested from three years old, and buses and taxis from when they are first used.

Last checked 23 October 2026.

For the Great Britain ages, see when your MOT is due.

Who runs MOT tests in Northern Ireland?

In Northern Ireland, the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) provides MOT and vehicle testing. Tests take place at test centres, and the same testing routine is used in every centre.

Find your nearest centre and the tests it carries out on nidirect: Driving and vehicle test centres. Read more on nidirect: How the MOT scheme works.

Booking, cancellations and reminders

We do not book, change or cancel MOTs, and we do not send reminders. You book an MOT in Northern Ireland with the DVA, online on nidirect or by calling the booking line. You can view, change or cancel your appointment online.

• Book your MOT online on nidirect
• Change, cancel or view your appointment on nidirect

If you need an MOT to tax your vehicle and cannot get a date before your MOT runs out, nidirect says to book the earliest available appointment and keep checking the booking system for an earlier one. Waiting times vary between test centres, so you may get a test sooner at another centre. Read nidirect: Booking your MOT.

In Northern Ireland you get an MOT reminder by post 7 weeks before your MOT is due. The GOV.UK text and email reminder service is not for people who live in Northern Ireland.

Moving a vehicle between Northern Ireland and Great Britain

In Great Britain you can test early and keep your renewal date, but this does not carry across. A test in the other part of the UK sets a new date.

• From Northern Ireland to Great Britain: This does not apply if your last MOT was in Northern Ireland and your next test is in Great Britain. Your renewal date will then be based on the date of the GB MOT test.
• From Great Britain to Northern Ireland: If you get your next MOT in Northern Ireland, you cannot keep any time left from a test done in another part of the UK. You get a new 12-month MOT certificate starting from the date of the test.

See how the MOT due date works for the early test rules in Great Britain.

Frequently asked questions