Van Check: MOT History, Tax, Mileage and Records by Reg

Van check by reg: tax, MOT history, mileage and records

Enter the van's registration in the search box above. The free van check shows the make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size and year from the DVLA record, whether the van is taxed or SORN and when the tax runs out, the MOT status and expiry, every MOT test since 2005 with the mileage, advisories and failures, and the commercial details that matter on a van: the revenue weight, the wheel plan and the type approval category (N1 or M1). The full report adds outstanding finance and leasing interests, insurance write-offs, the police stolen marker, previous keepers, plate changes, the VIN and engine number to compare with the van, the recorded road tax cost and the manufacturer's weights, dimensions and towing figures.

Is my van taxed? Free van tax and MOT check

The free check shows the DVLA tax status straight away: taxed with the expiry date, untaxed, or SORN (declared off the road). Light goods vehicles up to 3,500 kg pay a flat annual rate rather than the CO2-based rate for cars, and tax does not pass to a new keeper, so a van you buy needs taxing in your name before you drive it away. The same check shows the MOT expiry and the complete DVSA MOT history. Our tax check page covers tax, SORN and refunds in more detail.

Van MOT check: class 4 and class 7

A van needs an MOT every year from three years old. Vans up to 3,000 kg design gross weight take a class 4 MOT, the same as a car; goods vehicles from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg take a class 7 MOT, which is the same inspection at a test station equipped for the extra weight. Heavier vehicles have an annual test instead, covered on our truck history check. The free check shows:

• Every MOT since 2005 with the result, the expiry and the mileage at each test.
• Failure reasons and advisories: on vans the testers most often record lighting faults, worn brake pads and discs, corroded brake pipes, tyres near the limit, play in steering and suspension joints and parking brakes below the required efficiency.
• Gaps: a year without a test means the van was SORN, off the road, or driven without an MOT.

Read the advisories as a maintenance record; a fault that fails two years running was never fixed properly. The MOT check page explains the status and due date, and our guide to MOT advisories explains how to read them.

Van mileage check

Vans cover big mileages and high mileage on its own is not a problem; what matters is that it is honest. The free check lists the reading at every MOT and the average per year, so you can see whether the readings rise steadily or drop. The full report adds a mileage anomaly check that flags a reading lower than an earlier one. Then check that the seat, pedal rubbers, steering wheel and load floor match the mileage claimed.

N1 or M1: why the type approval category matters on a van

The free check shows the DVLA type approval category. N1 is a goods vehicle up to 3,500 kg; M1 is a passenger car. Most panel vans are N1, but a camper conversion, a crew van or a car-derived van can sit either way, and the category decides more than the name suggests:

If a seller says a van has been reclassified, the V5C and the DVLA record should agree. The type approval check explains every category.

What the full van history report adds

• Outstanding finance. Finance is more common on vans than on cars: most are bought on hire purchase, lease or business contract hire, and the agreement is often in a company's name. If finance is still recorded, the lender can recover the van from you. The full report shows the lender, the agreement type and the date; the finance check page explains what to do if it shows.
• Insurance write-offs. Cat S, N, C or D records with the date. Repaired vans go straight back to work. See the write-off check.
• Police stolen marker and the high risk register. A stolen van can be taken back from you. The stolen check page explains the marker.
• Previous keepers and plate changes. Many keepers in a short time, or a plate change, deserve a question. The full report shows the keeper count and the date of the last change.
• VIN and engine number, to compare with the plate on the van and the V5C.
• Weights, dimensions and towing. Kerb, gross and revenue weight, length, width and height, and the towing limits.

Ex-fleet, ex-hire and ex-utility vans

Many used vans come from fleets, hire companies and utilities, and that is not bad news: a fleet van is usually serviced on schedule and sold at a set age. The signs are a single company keeper on the V5C, a mileage that rises evenly, holes or faded patches where livery and roof bars came off, and a plywood-lined load area. Check the service record, that the tracker and limiter have been removed, and that the load-area and clutch wear has been dealt with. Our guide to buying an ex-police, ex-fleet or ex-hire vehicle goes through the questions to ask.

Is my van ULEZ compliant?

Vans up to 3,500 kg fall under the same ULEZ emissions standards as cars: a diesel van needs to meet Euro 6 and a petrol van Euro 4, or you pay the daily charge inside the zone. Most diesel vans registered from September 2016 are Euro 6, but the date alone does not settle it; the DVLA record and the manufacturer's data decide. The free check shows the Euro status where the DVLA holds it and our likely ULEZ assessment, and the ULEZ check page explains the London zone, the clean air zones in other cities and what to do if your van falls short.

Buying a used van: the checklist

1. Run the free check on the registration: tax, MOT history, mileage, type approval and weight, and compare them with the van and the V5C.
2. Get the full report before any deposit: finance, write-off, stolen marker, keepers, VIN and engine number.
3. VIN and engine number: match them to the V5C and the report.
4. Load area: look for damage to the floor, bulkhead, roof and door seals that was never claimed on insurance; check the tail lift or roof rack mounts if fitted.
5. Clutch and gearbox: vans are driven loaded; a slipping clutch or a notchy gearbox is an expensive fix.
6. Diesel particulate filter and AdBlue: short-hop vans clog their DPFs; warning lights and recent "forced regeneration" receipts tell you.
7. Paperwork: V5C in the seller's name (or the company's), service history, MOT certificates.

What the free van check shows, and what the full report adds

The full history check runs on any UK-registered vehicle, and the sample report shows the layout before you buy.

Van check FAQs