Look up a fault code or browse MOT data

Last updated · OBDCode UK editorial

Enter the five-character code from your OBD-II reader, or browse published DVSA MOT statistics by make and model. Free — and where we hold verified UK figures, we tell you what the job should cost before you agree to it.

A fault code such as P0300, or a word such as brake, to find a guide or MOT advisory. A code identifies a system or circuit; it does not confirm the failed part.

No reader? Tell us what the car is doing →

Can I keep driving?

A code alone cannot confirm that a vehicle is safe to drive; symptoms take priority.

Driveability guidance

A fault code alone cannot confirm that a vehicle is safe to drive. If braking, steering or vehicle control is affected, the engine is overheating, or you notice smoke, fuel, a major leak or a flashing engine management light, stop in a safe place and seek professional help.

Look up the full code and use its verified safety section when one is available. Do not borrow a verdict from another code.

Haven’t got a code? Start from what the car is doing instead — each of these guides opens with whether it is safe to drive, and what it should cost to put right.

Brake pedal spongy or sinkingDo not drive — what to do instead Overheating with the coolant fullStop and recover; why topping up will not fix it Flashing engine light and judderingStop the journey — continuing can destroy the catalyst Won’t start, just clicksWhat to check before you pay for a battery White, blue or black exhaust smokeWhat each colour means and whether to drive All symptom guidesEvery graded symptom route, safety verdict first

Browse fault codes by block

Complete code library →

Choose the block that matches the start of your code. Each destination is a static page and works without JavaScript.

Check a vehicle’s MOT history

Registration lookup runs on the home page: type the plate there and we pull the official DVSA MOT record, then help you work out what to do next. The registration is not placed in a URL and is not stored by OBDCode.

It appears whenever the lookup service is running. When it is not, the home page says so rather than showing a form that cannot deliver — and the official checker below is there either way.

Go to the registration lookupOn the home page — official DVSA MOT record, then the dashboard walk-through Check MOT history on GOV.UKThe official record for one registration number, free Browse MOT data by make & modelPublished aggregate pass rates and common failure groups — not an individual vehicle history

Browse verified make and model statistics

All makes & models →

These pages use published DVSA aggregate test data. They describe a model’s MOT record, not the history of an individual vehicle.

Ford FiestaStatic MOT pass-rate and common-failure page Ford FocusStatic MOT pass-rate and common-failure page Volkswagen GolfStatic MOT pass-rate and common-failure page Vauxhall CorsaStatic MOT pass-rate and common-failure page Volkswagen PoloStatic MOT pass-rate and common-failure page Vauxhall AstraStatic MOT pass-rate and common-failure page

What to review in an official MOT record

Recorded test resultsPasses, failures, dates and test details available in the official record
Failure reasonsItems recorded by the MOT tester
AdvisoriesItems that may need monitoring or repair
Mileage historyCompare recorded odometer readings and investigate unexpected changes

Why check before buying

Use the official GOV.UK record to review repeated advisories, failures and mileage entries. An MOT record is not a substitute for service history or a pre-purchase inspection.

You can also browse published model-level MOT statistics, read our advisory explanations, or paste a whole advisory list to see what those lines predicted for other cars.

Static make and model statistics: DVSA anonymised MOT data (Crown copyright). Registration-specific results come from the DVSA MOT History API through the lookup on the home page, and no registration number is stored.