You can check whether a car in the UK has an outstanding safety recall using its vehicle identification number (VIN). The Motor Ombudsman’s recall checker works from the 17-character VIN and reports whether an unfixed safety recall is registered against it, but only for manufacturers in the DVSA safety recall scheme. The official GOV.UK route asks for the registration number, or for the make, model and year of manufacture, instead. Read the terms and conditions shown on any checker before you enter your details or pay for anything, and do not assume a service is free.
What is a vehicle recall?
A vehicle recall is the manufacturer’s response to a defect that affects a model or a batch of cars. When the defect is a serious safety problem, GOV.UK states that the manufacturer will write to the owner with instructions. A recall is different from a routine service or an MOT failure: it is raised by the manufacturer, and the fix is carried out by the manufacturer or a dealer authorised for your make.
A recall can apply to your car even if you have never received a letter about it. If you have moved house since buying the car, or bought it second-hand, a notice may have gone to a previous address. That is why a check is worth doing, whatever you remember about the car’s history.
How do you check a recall using your VIN?
The Motor Ombudsman’s vehicle recalls checker starts from the VIN. The VIN is a string of 17 characters made up of letters and numbers. You enter it, accept the checker’s terms and conditions, and the service reports whether an outstanding safety recall is registered against that VIN.
The checker covers manufacturers that take part in the DVSA safety recall scheme. Its page lists the makes it covers. If your make is not on that list, the page says the manufacturer is not a participant in the scheme, and suggests contacting the manufacturer or a main dealer for your make directly. A missing make is therefore not a sign that your car has no recall; it means you need to ask the manufacturer or dealer instead.
When you use the checker, enter the VIN exactly as it appears on your car or V5C. One wrong character means the result will not be for your vehicle. Take the time to check each character before you submit it.
Where do you find your VIN?
The VIN is recorded on the vehicle’s V5C registration certificate, often called the log book, and on the vehicle itself. On the car, it is usually found on the driver’s door pillar, on the windscreen or dashboard, or under the bonnet. Check more than one location where you can, so you can confirm the characters match.
The Motor Ombudsman warns that the letter O can be confused with the number 0. Look closely at every O and 0 before you type the VIN, and use the same characters you see on the V5C. If the VIN on the car and the one on the V5C do not match, do not run the check until you understand why. This is also useful advice when buying a used car: ask the seller for the V5C and compare it with the VIN on the vehicle.
How do you check recalls on GOV.UK without a VIN?
According to GOV.UK (DVSA), the simplest official route is the car’s registration number, which you can enter in the MOT history service on GOV.UK to check whether it has been recalled. The registration number is printed on the number plate, so you do not need any paperwork to start.
If you do not have the registration number, GOV.UK says you can still check by entering the manufacturer, model and year of manufacture in the vehicle recalls service. Enter the details carefully. Choosing the wrong model or year can produce a result for a different version of the car.
If you use both the VIN checker and the GOV.UK route, and the two results differ, do not treat either one as final. Contact the manufacturer or a main dealer for your make, quote the VIN, and ask them to confirm which recalls apply to your car.
What should you do if your car is recalled?
If a recall is for a serious safety defect, GOV.UK says you must not drive the vehicle. Ask the manufacturer or a main dealer for your make how to arrange transport, and do not drive the car to be repaired or tested until they have confirmed that it is safe to do so.
According to GOV.UK (DVSA), the manufacturer must sort out the problem by repairing or replacing the vehicle, and you will not usually have to pay for repairs or parts. The manufacturer will write to you with instructions. If you have moved, update your address with the manufacturer, because letters go to the address they hold. Keep any letter and the reference it contains, since the dealer will need it to book the repair.
Not every recall is for a serious safety defect. For a less serious issue, follow the instructions you receive from the manufacturer, and book the repair as soon as a slot is available. Do not ignore a recall because the car seems to be running normally; many safety defects give no warning before they affect the car.
When should you book an MOT?
The MOT test checks that a vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards. An open recall is not, by itself, the subject of the test, but a car with a serious safety defect should not be driven to the test under normal circumstances. Speak to the manufacturer or dealer first if you are unsure.
According to GOV.UK, a car must have its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, and an MOT pass lasts one year. You can book an MOT up to a month minus a day before the current one runs out and keep the same renewal date. If you test earlier than that, the new expiry date becomes one year minus a day from the date of the pass.
The rules on driving without a valid MOT are strict. You cannot drive or park a vehicle on the road once its MOT has run out, and you can be fined up to £1,000 for driving without a valid MOT. The exceptions are driving to or from a place where the vehicle is to be repaired, and driving to a pre-arranged MOT test. Keep those journeys to the minimum, and if the car has a serious recall defect, check with the manufacturer or dealer before you drive it.
If your vehicle is registered in Northern Ireland, the MOT rules differ from those described above, so check the official guidance for that region before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check a car I am thinking of buying?
Yes, if you have its VIN or registration number. Ask the seller for the V5C and compare the VIN there with the VIN on the car before you run the check.
What if my car has no UK registration number?
Use the GOV.UK vehicle recalls service with the manufacturer, model and year of manufacture. If your make is not covered by the Motor Ombudsman checker, contact the manufacturer or a main dealer for your make.
Can I still drive a car with an open recall?
Not if the recall is for a serious safety defect, according to GOV.UK. For any other recall, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and contact a dealer before deciding whether the car is safe to drive.
