Plain answers to the questions that come up around MOTs, tax, used-vehicle buying and fleet paperwork — written for people who would rather understand the record than guess at it.
An MOT record is the closest thing a used car has to a paper trail. Here is the order to read it in, and the patterns that should make you walk away.
Read guideSince 2018 MOT defects are graded. Here is what each grade means, which advisories normally mean imminent spend, and how to use a repeated advisory when negotiating.
Read guideThe expiry date on the DVSA record is the one that matters. Here is how the twelve-month cycle works, how to test early without losing a year, and what happens if you miss it.
Read guideA SORN takes a vehicle off the road for tax purposes. Here is what it does, what it does not do, and what to check before buying a vehicle that carries one.
Read guideVans wear differently from cars. Check the weight plate, read mileage against payload, and know which MOT class the van needs before you commit.
Read guideAdvisories are deferred maintenance with a price attached. Here is how they accumulate, how to turn them into a budget, and why they follow the vehicle to resale.
Read guideIf a vehicle is stopped or a driver is involved in an incident, the operator has to prove compliance. Here is the file to keep, and why a dashboard beats a folder.
Read guideThey are not interchangeable and neither is complete on its own. One is an annual safety snapshot, the other is a record of maintenance. Here is how to use both.
Read guideTax is tied to the keeper, not the vehicle. Here is what happens to the seller's tax, what the buyer must do before driving away, and the gap that catches people out.
Read guideA good maintenance record saves diagnosis time, proves compliance and protects resale value. Here is what belongs in it and how little effort it really takes.
Read guideJoin the operators and workshops already running their day-to-day on VehicleVerse.