How to Read Your MOT Certificate Line by Line

Most UK drivers glance at the expiry date on their MOT certificate and file it away. That is a missed opportunity, because the document also lists every advisory, minor fault and known weakness on your car. Learning to read it line by line helps you budget for repairs, spot fraud and verify the test took place. This step-by-step guide walks through a real VT20/VT30 layout, and you can cross-check anything you read against a free MOT history check.

VT20 vs VT30: which certificate are you holding?

A VT20 is the pass certificate. It confirms your vehicle met the minimum legal standard at the date and time of the test. A VT30 is a refusal of test, meaning a major or dangerous defect was found. Both look almost identical and use the same reference codes. Even though paper certificates are no longer mandatory in Great Britain, the VT20/VT30 format still drives the layout you see online.

If your printout shows neither code, it is not an official MOT document. See our guide on VT20 vs VT30 explained for the legal differences.

Since 2018, paper certificates are issued only on request - the legal record sits in the DVSA database. Most garages still print a courtesy copy on plain A4. Whether yours is paper, PDF or screen-only, every certificate contains the same fields in the same order, so this guide applies regardless of format.

The seven sections of the certificate

Every UK MOT certificate is laid out in the same order. Read them in this sequence to get the full picture.

• 1. Vehicle identification - registration mark, make, model, colour, VIN (last 8 digits) and fuel type
• 2. Test details - date, time, test number, recorded mileage in miles or km
• 3. Result and expiry - PASS (VT20) with new expiry, or REFUSAL (VT30) with no expiry
• 4. Defects list - grouped by Dangerous, Major, Minor, Advisory and Pass with notes
• 5. Inspection Manual references - section codes (e.g. 5.2.3) for each defect
• 6. Tester information - tester unique ID number and signature
• 7. Vehicle Testing Station (VTS) - site name, address and 6-digit VTS code

Step 1: Verify the vehicle identification

Start at the top. The registration, make, model and last eight characters of the VIN must match your V5C logbook exactly. A mismatch can mean the wrong car was tested - a small but serious form of MOT fraud known as 'reg switching'. If anything is wrong, refuse to drive away and ask the garage to void the test.

Cross-check the colour and fuel type. EVs and hybrids are recorded as ELECTRIC or HYBRID and skip the emissions section. Older imports may show 'NOT AVAILABLE' for some fields - that is normal for grey-import vehicles.

Look out for any field where the entry is in capitals followed by a question mark or asterisk - this indicates an MTS data conflict that the tester worked around. Common cases include cars whose engine size has been re-mapped, vans recategorised as motor caravans on the V5C, and dual-fuel LPG conversions. Note the discrepancy and raise it with DVLA if your V5C does not match.

Step 2: Read the mileage and expiry date

The recorded mileage is the figure the tester typed in at the start of the test. It will appear in miles or kilometres depending on the speedometer. Compare it to your odometer now - if it has dropped, you have a clocking concern that needs urgent investigation via a free MOT history check.

The expiry date is calculated as 12 months from the new test date, OR up to one calendar month after the previous certificate expired (whichever is later, if you tested early). For example, if your old MOT expired on 20 March and you tested on 25 February, your new MOT runs until 20 March the following year - you do not lose those days.

Test very early (more than 30 days before old expiry) and the new certificate runs 12 months from the test date - you lose any unused days from the old MOT. This is the single most common reason drivers feel cheated out of MOT cover. Always plan your test for inside the 30-day window unless your travel schedule forces an earlier slot.

Step 3: Decode the defects list

The defects list is the most useful part of the document. Each line is tagged with a category, then a plain-English description, then an Inspection Manual section reference (e.g. '5.2.3 - service brake performance below requirement').

• Dangerous: Direct safety risk - do not drive even if MOT still valid (£2,500 fine)
• Major: Fail - significant defect, certificate refused (VT30)
• Minor: Pass with note - monitor and repair at next service
• Advisory: Worth attention before next test, no current breach
• Pass with notes: Item passes but tester noted observation

Step 4: Check tester ID and VTS code

Every MOT tester has a unique identifier issued by DVSA. The same number appears on every test they conduct. The VTS (Vehicle Testing Station) code is six digits and identifies the garage. Combined, these two numbers let DVSA audit any test in seconds.

If you suspect a ghost MOT, you can report the tester ID and VTS to DVSA. Genuine certificates always carry both, and from April 2026 they must also be backed by a photograph of the vehicle on the ramp under the new photo evidence rule.

VTS codes also indicate whether a site is independent or part of a chain. A site beginning with V- is typically a vehicle dealer franchise, while AE- suffixes show authorised examiner-controlled premises. None of this affects the validity of your certificate but it can be useful when verifying online reviews of garages.

Step 5: Cross-check online before you file it

Within minutes of the test result being entered into the DVSA Mot Testing System (MTS), the data appears on the GOV.UK MOT history service. Run a free MOT history check using your registration to confirm the new entry. The online record should match every line on your printed certificate.

If anything is missing or different - particularly the mileage - go straight back to the garage. You have 28 days to request a free correction at the same VTS. After that you must use the formal DVSA complaint route: see our guide on correcting wrong mileage on an MOT.

Save the printed certificate or PDF in a folder with your service receipts. Even though the GOV.UK record is the legal source of truth, the local copy is useful when selling the car privately. Buyers expect to see the most recent certificate alongside the V5C, and a tidy file folder positions your sale as well-maintained.

Using your certificate to plan next year's MOT

A well-read certificate doubles as a maintenance plan. Each minor and advisory note tells you which items will likely fail next year if untreated. Cross-reference the items against your service schedule: brake pads at 3mm now will be at 1mm in 12 months, suspension bushes flagged today will likely tear within a winter of pothole season.

Set calendar reminders six weeks before the next expiry to give yourself room to test early. The DVLA also offers free email and SMS reminders if you sign up at GOV.UK. Combine this with a quarterly free MOT history check to spot any unexpected updates - the DVSA records every test in real time, including any retests at other garages, so the database always shows the live legal status.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does VT20 mean on an MOT certificate?

VT20 is the DVSA reference code for an MOT pass certificate. It confirms the vehicle met the legal standard at the date of the test and lists any minor defects or advisories noted.

Where is the test number on my MOT certificate?

The 12-digit test number appears in the Test Details section near the top, next to the date and time. You need it to look up the test on GOV.UK or to query a result with DVSA.

What is the VTS code on my MOT?

The VTS (Vehicle Testing Station) code is a 6-digit number identifying the garage that performed your MOT. It is recorded against every test and lets DVSA trace audits and complaints.

Why does my MOT certificate show kilometres, not miles?

The tester records mileage exactly as it appears on your speedometer. If your car has a kilometre cluster (typical of imports or some EVs), the certificate shows km. The unit is noted alongside the figure.

What if the mileage on my MOT certificate is wrong?

Go back to the test station within 28 days for a free correction. After 28 days, contact DVSA via csccomplaints@dvsa.gov.uk - see our wrong mileage correction guide.

Reading your certificate properly turns it from filing-cabinet paperwork into a maintenance plan - and a free MOT history check keeps that record at your fingertips for life.