Start with the official MOT record
If you want to check a motorcycle before buying it, or revisit the history of a bike you already own, start with its registration number. The GOV.UK MOT history service shows recorded test results and mileage, along with the next MOT due date where available.
For motorcycles tested in England, Scotland or Wales, the service covers tests from 2005. Northern Ireland records are available from 2017. Older tests and work carried out between tests may not appear, so a short online record does not tell the whole story.
Read the history as a timeline
Begin with the latest test, then work back through the earlier entries. Note the date, recorded mileage and result for each test. Read the recorded defects and advisories rather than looking only at whether the motorcycle passed.
Make a separate list of questions. Does an advisory appear again later? Is there an invoice showing what was done after a failed test? If mileage entries look unusual, ask for supporting records instead of assuming you know the cause. An MOT entry alone does not explain every gap or change.
MOT history is not service history
The MOT record describes tests. A maintenance record describes work: oil changes, replacement parts, inspections and workshop visits. A motorcycle can have MOT records without a complete record of servicing, and maintenance can take place without generating a new MOT entry.
Compare the official record with receipts, service-book entries and the owner’s notes. Keep the source of each item clear. A note saying work was planned is different from a receipt or an entry confirming it was completed.
MOT history and service history compared
Use the two records together. Neither fills gaps in the other automatically, and a planned job is not evidence that work was completed.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways.
| Record | What it records | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Official MOT history | Recorded test results, test mileage and available defects or advisories. | A complete maintenance record or the bike’s condition today. |
| Service history | Recorded servicing and repairs, with dates, mileage and supporting paperwork where available. | That every entry is independently verified or every job has been recorded. |
| Service plan | Work and questions you want to discuss with a garage. | Completed maintenance, an agreed price or a confirmed booking. |
Keep a motorcycle service history alongside the MOT record →
Questions to take to the garage
Keep the wording of each advisory with its date and mileage. Ask what the garage can establish from the record and what needs a current inspection.
- Which advisory or defect am I asking about, and when was it recorded?
- Is there an invoice or service entry showing what happened afterwards?
- Are any dates or mileage readings unclear, and what evidence could help explain them?
- What should the garage assess now before recommending work?
- Which work and charges will need my approval before the garage proceeds?
Turn questions into a service conversation
Before speaking to a garage, write down the entries you want to discuss, any work you can document and anything you are unsure about. Share the dates and mileage with the garage so the discussion is specific to your motorcycle. An online history is not a substitute for assessing the bike’s current condition.
2Shocks is available on Google Play to keep available MOT history, your maintenance entries and saved service plans in one motorcycle record. The app labels official information separately from rider-added records. Coverage varies by motorcycle. This website does not perform registration lookups; use the official service linked below to check a record today.
Official source
Your motorbike’s service book, on your phone.
Start free with one active motorcycle. Keep your service history, available MOT records, mileage and maintenance plans together.
An account and internet connection are required. Coverage varies by motorcycle. iOS coming soon.
Keep exploring
How to keep a motorcycle service history →