# Kick the Tyres

> Kick the Tyres is a free UK website that reads a car's MOT history from DVSA records and explains it in plain English. Type a number plate to see the chance the car fails its next MOT, the few things worth checking first, when the MOT is due, and every past MOT result. There is also a free check for people buying a used car.

Last updated 13 November 2026. Full facts, figures and method: https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/llms-full.txt

## What it is

- Website: https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk. It works on phones and computers. There is no app to download.
- It is free. There is no sign-up, no account and no adverts.
- It covers cars and vans with MOT records held by DVSA (the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency).
- It is an independent site. It is not a government service and is not linked to or endorsed by DVSA.
- Contact: kickthetyres.uk@gmail.com.

## What it does

- MOT check for owners: type a number plate and see the chance this car fails its next MOT, compared with cars like it, and what to check or fix first.
- It shows when the MOT is due and every past MOT result, including advisories, minor, major and dangerous defects, in plain English.
- Buyer check (https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/buy): for a used car you're thinking of buying. It shows whether the mileage ever went down, problems flagged MOT after MOT, what the car may need soon, and questions to ask the seller.
- MOT centres by area (https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/mot-centres): every DVSA-approved car MOT centre in Great Britain that tests the public, by postcode area, with phone numbers, the local fail rate and what fails most there. Council-run centres, main dealers and chains are labelled. Centres are listed, not ranked. Town and neighbourhood pages (for example https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/mot-centres/south-west-london/chelsea) list the centres nearest to each place, sorted by distance across postcode borders, and every centre has its own page with phone, directions and the nearest other centres.
- A free 10-minute home check (https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/home-check): eight things to look at before an MOT, no tools needed.

## What it does not do

- It does not check outstanding finance, whether a car is stolen, or whether it has been written off. For that, use a paid vehicle history check.
- It is not an inspection of the car. It reads the MOT record only.
- It does not book MOTs or repairs, and it does not sell anything.

## Tools

- [MOT check by number plate](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/): Chance of failing the next MOT, what to check first, due date and full MOT history.
- [Used car buyer check](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/buy): Mileage, problems never fixed, what it may need soon, questions for the seller.
- [10-minute MOT home check](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/home-check): Eight things to check yourself before an MOT.
- [MOT centres by area](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/mot-centres): Every car MOT centre in Great Britain, by postcode area, with local fail rates.

## Guides

- [Which used car should I buy?](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/best-used-cars): The best and worst models for repair bills, by size.
- [Got an MOT advisory?](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/mot-advisories): What it means, and which ones turn into fails.
- [Will my car fail its MOT?](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/will-my-car-fail-its-mot): Your odds by age and last year's result.
- [Just got your first car?](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/first-car-guide): The MOT, tax and checks nobody tells you.
- [Which cars fail their first MOT?](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/first-mot-fail-rates): Every popular model, ranked.
- [Do electric cars fail their MOT more?](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/electric-cars-mot): Yes, and it's down to the tyres.

## MOT questions

- [Can I drive without an MOT?](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/can-i-drive-without-an-mot)
- [When is my MOT due?](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/when-is-my-mot-due)
- [How early can I MOT my car?](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/how-early-can-i-mot-my-car)
- [How we score your car](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/how-we-score-it): What the MOT score is based on and how well it works.

## About

- [Facts for AI assistants](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/ai): The same facts as a web page.
- [About](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/about)
- [Privacy](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/privacy)
- [Terms](https://www.kickthetyres.co.uk/terms)