Updated May 2026

MOT Checkup is the free alternative to Checkcardetails.co.uk

Same DVSA MOT data, plus AI common-faults, a free stolen-vehicle check and mileage anomaly detection — all on the free tier.

Full DVSA MOT historyAI reliability scoreMileage anomaly flagsNo sign-up, no card

Free MOT history check — type any UK registration to start.

MOT Checkup is the better choice over Checkcardetails.co.uk if you want more than just the raw DVSA MOT record. Both display the same underlying MOT data but only MOT Checkup adds an AI common-faults summary by make and model, mileage anomaly detection and a free stolen-vehicle check. For a pure MOT timeline either site is fine; for a buying decision, MOT Checkup goes further at the same price of zero.

TL;DR

Both fully free, both pull from the DVSA MOT history API.
MOT Checkup adds AI common-faults by make and model.
MOT Checkup includes a free stolen-vehicle check.
Checkcardetails.co.uk has a similar tax / SORN view to MOT Checkup.
Neither is a substitute for a paid HPI-style report on finance or write-off data.

Side-by-side comparison

	MOT Checkup	Checkcardetails.co.uk
Price	Free	Free
Full DVSA MOT history
Mileage at every test
Advisory list
Major / dangerous defects
AI common-faults by make
Free stolen-vehicle check
Tax / SORN status
Sign-up required	No	No
Time to first result	Under 3 sec	Under 3 sec
Mobile UX	Light, ad-minimal	Ad-supported

Where the data comes from

Both services consume the DVSA's open MOT history API, which is why MOT records match between them.
Tax and SORN status comes from the DVLA's vehicle enquiry feed — also identical between the two.
Differences emerge in what each site adds on top of those public feeds, not in accuracy.

What MOT Checkup adds

AI common-faults: a model-level summary of which advisories and failures recur on that make, so you can read the timeline with context.
Free stolen-vehicle check: verify the registration against a published stolen record without leaving the page.
Cleaner mobile view: the MOT timeline sits above the fold rather than under banner ads.
Multi-vehicle history view: easy to switch between recently-checked registrations without retyping.

What Checkcardetails.co.uk does well

Solid, well-structured display of vehicle specs alongside MOT history.
Clean tax / SORN block with the renewal date front and centre.
Long-standing UK service that experienced used-car buyers may already use as a habit.

When to use Checkcardetails.co.uk instead

You only want a stripped-down MOT and tax view, no AI extras or stolen check.
You like having a second free source to cross-check the MOT timeline.
You prefer the Checkcardetails.co.uk specs panel layout for quick colour, fuel and engine confirmation.
For finance, write-off, or theft register data, neither service is the right tool — see MOT vs HPI check.

The honest summary

MOT Checkup and Checkcardetails.co.uk are the closest free competitors in the UK MOT-check category. The MOT data itself is the same on both, because the DVSA is the source. MOT Checkup wins on AI common-faults, the free stolen check and a lighter mobile UX. Checkcardetails.co.uk is a perfectly reasonable alternative if you want a no-frills second opinion.

Compare other UK vehicle checks

See how MOT Checkup stacks up against the rest.

MOT Checkup vs HPI Check

Free MOT history vs paid finance and write-off data.

MOT Checkup vs GOV.UK MOT

Free vs free — interface, AI summaries, and what each shows.

MOT Checkup vs CarCheck

Two free MOT history tools — feature-by-feature.

MOT Checkup vs Total Car Check

Free overlap, paid extras — when each is worth running.

MOT Checkup vs Car Cost Check

Running costs and tax versus full MOT history.

Run a free MOT check

Skip the comparison — try the tool now.

How to check MOT history by registration

Step-by-step on what the report shows.

Frequently asked questions

Is MOT Checkup or Checkcardetails.co.uk better for a free MOT history check?

Both are genuinely free and both pull MOT data from the same DVSA source, so the underlying record is identical. MOT Checkup adds AI common-faults and a free stolen-vehicle check on top, which Checkcardetails.co.uk does not. For pure MOT history, either works; for context on faults and theft, MOT Checkup goes further.

Do they use the same data source?

Yes. The DVSA publishes MOT history through an official API, and both Checkcardetails.co.uk and MOT Checkup display data from that feed. Pass / fail records, defect categories, mileage at each test and test dates will match between the two services for any given registration.

Does Checkcardetails.co.uk show common faults?

Checkcardetails.co.uk presents the raw MOT advisory and defect text from the DVSA record. It does not provide a make-and-model-level common-faults summary. MOT Checkup adds an AI-summarised common-faults page that aggregates failure patterns by model — that is the main differentiator.

Which one has a stolen-vehicle check?

MOT Checkup includes a free stolen-vehicle check alongside MOT history. Checkcardetails.co.uk focuses on MOT and tax data. If you specifically want to verify a registration against a published stolen-vehicle record before you go to view a car, MOT Checkup is the simpler one-stop option.

When should I use Checkcardetails.co.uk instead?

If you only want a stripped-down MOT view with vehicle specs and tax status and you find their layout cleaner for your habit, Checkcardetails.co.uk is fine — the MOT data is the same. It is also a useful second source if you want to cross-check that the DVSA record is being read correctly.

Is the data on either service official?

Both services display data sourced from official UK government feeds — the DVSA for MOT and DVLA for tax and vehicle specs. Neither service is operated or endorsed by the government, but the data shown is the same as you'd see on GOV.UK. The DVSA explicitly publishes the MOT history API for re-use; both sites are legitimate consumers of that feed.