Whether you can check a trailer's MOT depends on the trailer. Ordinary car, caravan and light trailers have no MOT and no test record to look up. Larger HGV and commercial goods trailers over 3,500kg are tested annually and do have a test history - but it sits in a separate DVSA commercial-vehicle system, not the car MOT database. Either way, the trailer and the vehicle towing it must always be roadworthy. You can check the towing vehicle's MOT and tax free on RegScan in seconds.

Can you check a trailer's MOT?

There's no single lookup that works for every trailer, because it depends on the type:

  • Car, caravan and light trailers - these don't need an MOT at all, so there's nothing to check: no test, no certificate, no online record.
  • HGV and commercial trailers over 3,500kg - these are tested annually and carry their own trailer test number and plating certificate. That history sits in the DVSA's commercial-vehicle (HGV) testing system, separate from the car MOT database - so you check it via the trailer's test certificate and the relevant GOV.UK commercial-vehicle service, not a registration lookup.

In short: for a normal car trailer there's no MOT to find; for a heavy goods trailer, its test record lives with its plating certificate and the DVSA commercial system. What you can always check online is the vehicle towing it - see below.

Which trailers need an MOT?

Everyday light trailers - box trailers, small plant trailers, caravans and horse trailers towed by cars - are not subject to the annual MOT. Testing applies mainly to:

  • goods trailers over 3,500kg gross vehicle weight, and
  • trailers used commercially with HGVs.

These heavier trailers are tested annually (the trailer has its own test and identification number). If you tow a normal trailer behind a car, an MOT almost certainly doesn't apply to it.

Roadworthy still matters - MOT or not

No MOT requirement is not the same as no rules. Any trailer on the road must be in a safe, roadworthy condition. The driver is responsible, and defects can lead to fines and penalty points. Before towing, check:

  • Tyres - tread, pressure, age and condition (trailer tyres often perish before they wear out)
  • Lights - all indicators, brake and side lights working via the connector
  • Brakes - on braked trailers, that they engage and the breakaway cable is intact
  • Coupling and hitch - secure, not worn, correctly latched
  • Load - within the trailer's limit and secured

Towing weight and your licence

What you can legally tow depends on your driving licence and the combined weight of vehicle plus trailer. Rules changed in late 2021, so most licence holders can now tow heavier combinations than before - but always check your own entitlement and the vehicle's towing limits.

Check the tow car's MOT

The car doing the towing still needs a valid MOT and tax. You can confirm both free on RegScan - enter the registration to see MOT status, history and tax in one place. Check the vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a trailer need an MOT?

Most ordinary car trailers and caravans don't. Annual testing mainly applies to goods trailers over 3,500kg and HGV trailers used commercially.

Do I need an MOT for a small box trailer or caravan?

No. Light trailers and caravans towed by cars aren't subject to the MOT, but they must still be roadworthy.

What weight of trailer needs testing?

Broadly, goods trailers over 3,500kg gross weight and HGV trailers require annual testing.

Can I be fined for an unsafe trailer even without an MOT?

Yes. A defective or unsafe trailer can bring fines and penalty points regardless of whether an MOT applies - the driver is responsible.

Can I check a trailer's MOT online?

Not for ordinary car trailers - they have no MOT and no record. Heavy goods and HGV trailers over 3,500kg are tested annually, but that history is in the DVSA commercial-vehicle system and on the trailer's plating certificate, not a car registration lookup.

Do trailers have an MOT you can look up?

Only heavier commercial and HGV trailers are tested, and their records sit in the DVSA's HGV testing system rather than the car MOT service. Light and caravan trailers have no MOT to look up.

How do I check an HGV trailer's test history?

Use the trailer's test number and plating certificate with the relevant GOV.UK commercial-vehicle testing service. It's separate from the standard car MOT history.

Does my tow car need a valid MOT?

Yes. The towing vehicle needs a valid MOT and tax. Check both free on RegScan with the registration.