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Want the fastest, easiest way to check whether a car is taxed, MoT tested, and insured to drive on UK roads? Auto Express is here to explain

2017-09-06 10:12

Finding out key information about when a car's MoT expires, or whether it has been taxed has never been easier. Even better, you don't need to own the vehicle to access most of the information, all you need is a reg number - a real bonus when looking to buy a used car.

So, if you are currently armed with the reg number of the car you would like to check, now all you need to do is follow the steps below to check its tax and MoT status: 

How to check a car’s tax and MoT

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1. 1. Click this link to the Government’s car tax checker website
2. 2. Click ‘Start now’
3. 3. Type in the reg number of the car and click ‘continue’
4. 4. Some preliminary information will pop up, but don’t get too excited as this is just to confirm you are searching the correct vehicle. After verifying the information is true by selecting ‘Yes’, click the ‘Continue’ button.
5. 5. Next there will be a plethora of information telling you not only the tax and MoT status of the car, but also a brief summary of the vehicle in question 

• Buying a used car: your complete guide

How to check a car’s MoT history

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There is another way to check only the MoT status of a vehicle. It is less well known but significantly more useful - especially when you are buying a second hand car. As above, follow the steps below to find out what to do:

1. 1. Follow this link to the Government’s MoT history checker website
2. 2. Click ‘Start now’
3. 3. Type in the registration number of the car you wish to find out about
4. 4. Next, you will be greeted by a page displaying all the MoT information about the car going right back until MoT records began 

• V5C logbook rules explained

How to check a car is insured 

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Finally, and perhaps just as importantly, there is checking if a vehicle is insured. Information around insurance is a bit more sensitive and as such you can only legally find out whether or not your car (or a company car you can drive) is insured - unless you happen to be an insurance broker acting on behalf of a client. As before, follow the simple steps below to check a vehicle's information:

1. 1. Click this link to the AskMID car insurance checker website
2. 2. After carefully checking the declaration and verifying that you are legally allowed to proceed, type your reg in the box at the top, tick the confirmation box and then confirm you are, in fact, not a robot.
3. 3. The following page will simply provide you a yes/no answer to the question of whether the vehicle is insured.

That is all there is to it, useful motoring information that is only a few clicks away. The MoT history checker is one of the most useful tools available to a used car buyer. The reason being, is it not only tells you when a car passed, but also when it failed, why it failed, which advisories it had, and also the mileage when tested. 

• How to check mileage and MOT history online

Using mild detective skills, a car which was tested three years ago with a mileage of 87,000 but tested this year with only 34,000 on the clock suggests something has gone awry. There could be a genuine reason, but it at least provides you with facts and questions you can ask the owner when buying a car. 

Have you had any nasty surprises from a car purchase that could have been avoided using the services above? Let us know in the comments below...

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