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Paul Walsh

API integration · DVSA MOT History

DVSA MOT History API integration

The full MOT history of any UK vehicle, straight into your website or platform. Every test result, advisory, failure reason and mileage reading from the official DVSA database, with no per-lookup fees. Quoted up front, and you own the code.

  • From £895, agreed before any work
  • The DVSA API is free, so lookups cost nothing
  • OAuth sign-in and token refresh handled for you

Get a quote

I'll reply within 24 hours with a price.

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Or WhatsApp / text 07398 946 380

Prices

Every project is different, so these are starting prices. You get a written quote before any work starts, then 50% to begin and 50% when you're happy with it.

Standard lookup

MOT history on your website or platform

From

£8953–4 days

  • OAuth sign-in with token caching
  • Registration lookup
  • Passes, fails, advisories and mileage shown
  • MOT expiry date
  • Handling for every edge case
  • Technical handover document
Get a quote for Standard lookup
Most popular

Platform integration

Wired into your system and workflow

From

£1,495about 1 week

  • Everything in Standard lookup
  • Results saved to your database or CRM
  • Lookups triggered by your workflow
  • Display built to match your platform
  • Mileage discrepancy flags
  • Advisory and failure patterns
Get a quote for Platform integration

Fleet monitoring

MOT expiry checks across a fleet

From

£2,295about 2 weeks

  • Everything in Platform integration
  • Scheduled checks across the fleet
  • Alerts at 30, 14 and 7 days
  • Email or webhook notifications
  • Dashboard of upcoming MOTs
  • Bulk registration import
Get a quote for Fleet monitoring

Retainer

Optional, once the integration is live

From

£49per month

  • API monitoring
  • Client secret rotation (they expire every 2 years)
  • Updates if the DVSA changes the API
  • Minor bug fixes
Get a quote for Retainer

What the DVSA MOT History API gives you

The DVSA MOT History API is the same data behind the government's public MOT history checker: pass and fail results, test dates, mileage, failure reasons and advisories for any UK registration. A custom integration puts it inside your own website or platform, looked up automatically, with no paid data service in the middle. See what the MOT history API returns.

Who it's for

  • Used car dealers Every listing shows the full MOT history and mileage automatically, so buyers see the official record without leaving your site. See MOT history on a dealer website.
  • Car-buying and part-exchange tools The customer enters their reg and the history comes back at once, so recent failures, advisories and mileage gaps show up before you make an offer.
  • Insurers Advisories and recorded mileage are useful context at quote time, pulled in automatically from the registration.
  • Fleet operators MOT expiry checked across the fleet on a schedule, with alerts and maintenance tasks triggered before anything runs out. See automating MOT expiry alerts.
  • Salvage and recycling Mileage and history looked up the moment a vehicle comes in, for a better-informed offer.

Why not a plugin

Most vehicle data plugins go through commercial resellers, with a charge on every lookup. A direct integration uses the official DVSA API, costs nothing per lookup and handles the Azure sign-in properly. For how it compares with paid checks, read DVSA MOT API vs an HPI check, and for the sign-in itself, the authentication guide.

How it's built

  • Signed in the way the DVSA requires The MOT History API uses a two-part sign-in: an access token from Microsoft's identity service plus an API key. The token is cached and renewed automatically, so lookups stay fast and never fail because a token expired.
  • Every result explained The API returns each test with its result, date, mileage, failure reasons and advisories. Defects are grouped by severity, and the data is shown in plain English rather than as raw codes.
  • Mileage made useful Mileage is recorded at every test, so the integration can flag readings that go backwards or don't add up, which is often the most useful thing a dealer or buyer can see.
  • The awkward cases handled Cars under three years old usually have no MOT yet. Some readings are recorded in kilometres or marked unreadable, and older history only goes back to when MOT records were computerised. Each case gets a clear message instead of an error.
  • Within the limits The DVSA limits how many requests you can make. Results are cached and bulk checks for fleets are scheduled, and very high-volume users can use the DVSA's bulk data instead.

What's included

  • Credentials stored securely on the server, never in the browser
  • Token caching and refresh, rate limits and retries
  • Clear handling of no MOT history, invalid regs and the API being down
  • Results shown or saved exactly as your system needs
  • A handover document, and the code is yours

Not included: your DVSA API registration (it's free and in your name), tax, keeper and SORN data (these come from the DVLA API), full history for Northern Ireland vehicles, and changes to your platform outside the integration.

Payment is 50% to start and the balance on completion. For what drives the price, read what an MOT history integration costs.

Try it

The MOT history check is a live demo. Enter any UK registration and see what the DVSA API returns.

How to get a price

Send a short written spec by WhatsApp, text, email or the form: your platform, what triggers the lookup and what should happen with the results. I'll reply within 24 hours with a quote.

Guides

Questions

Is the DVSA MOT History API free?

Yes. You register with the DVSA and there are no per-lookup charges. You only pay for building the integration.

What does it return?

For each test, the result, date, odometer reading, failure reasons and advisories. The vehicle record also includes make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size and first registration date.

How does the DVSA API sign in?

It uses OAuth 2.0 through Microsoft Azure. You get a client ID, client secret and tenant ID, which are swapped for an access token that lasts 60 minutes, plus a separate API key. The integration gets, caches and refreshes the token automatically.

How long does DVSA registration take?

Usually 1–5 working days. The credentials are issued to you, so you're never dependent on me for access.

What happens when the client secret expires?

DVSA client secrets expire every 2 years. The retainer covers spotting that early and rotating it before anything stops working.

Can I get tax status as well?

Not from this API. Tax status, SORN and the vehicle's current DVLA record come from the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry API, which can be built alongside this one.

Need this built into your system?

Quicker to message? WhatsApp or text 07398 946 380, or email paul@paul-walsh.co.uk.

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