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MOTAdvisor Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency

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Privacy Policy

This policy explains how MOTAdvisor and the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) collect, use and protect your personal data when you use our vehicle information services.

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Your privacy matters to us

This privacy policy applies to the MOTAdvisor website and all associated DVSA vehicle data services. It was last updated on 1 May 2025. We may update this policy from time to time; any changes will be published on this page.

MOTAdvisor is operated on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), an executive agency of the Department for Transport. DVSA is the data controller for personal information processed through this service.

1.What information we collect

We collect different types of information depending on how you use this service. This includes information you give us directly and information collected automatically when you visit the site.

Information you provide

When you use the MOT history checker or other vehicle lookup tools, you enter a vehicle registration number. This is not personal data — it is a vehicle identifier held in DVSA's public records. We do not ask you to create an account or provide your name, address or contact details to use the core check service.

If you contact us via our help or feedback forms, we may collect:

  • your name and email address
  • the content of your message or enquiry
  • any attachments you choose to include

Information collected automatically

When you visit MOTAdvisor, our servers and third-party analytics tools automatically collect certain technical information, including:

  • your IP address (anonymised where possible)
  • browser type and version
  • operating system
  • pages visited and time spent on each page
  • referring website or search query
  • date and time of your visit
info Vehicle registration numbers you search for may be logged for service monitoring and fraud prevention purposes. These logs are held securely and are not linked to your identity unless required for a legal investigation.
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2.How we use your information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • to provide the MOT history, vehicle tax and other lookup services
  • to monitor and improve the performance and reliability of the service
  • to detect and prevent fraudulent or abusive use of the service
  • to respond to enquiries and feedback submitted via our contact forms
  • to comply with legal obligations, including data retention requirements
  • to produce anonymised statistical reports on service usage

We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects on you.

We do not use your data for direct marketing and we will never sell your personal data to third parties.

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4.Who we share information with

We do not sell or rent your personal data. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

DVSA and Department for Transport

MOTAdvisor operates using data from DVSA's official vehicle and MOT databases. Queries made through this service are processed in accordance with DVSA's own data governance policies.

Technology and hosting providers

We use trusted third-party suppliers to host and operate this website. These suppliers act as data processors on our behalf and are bound by data processing agreements that restrict how they may use your data.

Analytics providers

We use anonymised analytics tools (such as Google Analytics with IP anonymisation enabled) to understand how the service is used. These providers may set cookies on your device — see the Cookies section below for details.

Law enforcement and legal proceedings

We may disclose information to law enforcement agencies, courts or regulators where we are legally required to do so, or where disclosure is necessary to prevent serious harm or criminal activity.

warning_amber We will never share your personal data with advertisers or data brokers, and we will never use vehicle search queries to build profiles for commercial purposes.
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5.How long we keep your data

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. Our standard retention periods are:

  • server access logs (including IP addresses) – 90 days, then deleted or anonymised
  • contact form submissions and email correspondence – 2 years from the date of last contact
  • anonymised analytics data – up to 26 months, in line with Google Analytics default settings
  • fraud investigation records – up to 7 years, or as required by applicable law

Vehicle registration numbers entered into the search tool are treated as service usage data, not personal data, unless they can be linked to an identified individual in the context of a legal investigation.

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6.Cookies and tracking

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. We use cookies to make this service work correctly and to understand how it is used.

Essential cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They do not store any personally identifiable information. Examples include session cookies that keep you on the correct page during your visit.

Analytics cookies

With your consent, we use Google Analytics to collect anonymised information about how visitors use this site. This helps us identify pages that are hard to use and improve the service. Analytics cookies are only set after you accept them via the cookie banner.

Managing cookies

You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie settings" link in the footer. You can also control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the service.

info We do not use advertising cookies or allow third-party advertisers to set cookies on this website.
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7.How we protect your data

We take the security of your personal data seriously. We use a range of technical and organisational measures to protect it from unauthorised access, loss or disclosure, including:

  • HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our servers
  • access controls restricting who within our organisation can access personal data
  • regular security testing and vulnerability assessments
  • data processor agreements requiring our suppliers to maintain equivalent standards
  • incident response procedures in the event of a data breach

In the event of a data breach that is likely to result in a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) within 72 hours and, where required, notify affected individuals without undue delay.

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8.Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

  • Right of access – you can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you (a Subject Access Request).
  • Right to rectification – you can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
  • Right to erasure – in certain circumstances, you can ask us to delete your personal data.
  • Right to restriction – you can ask us to restrict how we use your data while a complaint is being resolved.
  • Right to object – you can object to processing based on legitimate interests or the public task.
  • Right to data portability – where processing is based on consent or a contract, you can ask for your data in a machine-readable format.
  • Rights related to automated decision-making – you have rights if you are subject to automated decisions with significant effects.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer using the details in the Contact section below. We will respond within one calendar month of receiving your request.

info You have the right to withdraw consent for non-essential cookies at any time. This does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before you withdrew consent.
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9.Children's privacy

This service is not directed at children under the age of 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children. The MOT history checker is a public vehicle information service intended for use by adults, including vehicle buyers, owners and motoring professionals.

If you believe a child has provided us with personal data without appropriate parental consent, please contact us using the details below and we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

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10.Contact and complaints

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer:

  • Email: dpo@motadvisor.gov.uk
  • Post: Data Protection Officer, MOTAdvisor / DVSA, The Axis Building, 112 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 6LP

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK's supervisory authority:

open_in_new Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) – ico.org.uk

open_in_new Submit a Subject Access Request online

open_in_new Contact DVSA – GOV.UK

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