MOT pass rates by car make and model

71.2% of class-4 MOT tests passed first time in 2024. That is the initial pass rate across 27,451,261 tests in DVSA's anonymised 2024 dataset, covering 1,152 make and model groups — so roughly 28.8% of cars failed or needed a repair at the test.

This is an MOT test-performance comparison—not a claim about overall mechanical reliability.

UK initial pass rate

71.2%

Tests analysed

27,451,261

Model groups

1,152

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MOT pass rate by vehicle age

Age is the strongest single predictor in the dataset: 86.1% of cars aged 3–5 passed first time, against 57.4% of those aged 15–30.

Vehicle age	Tests	Initial pass rate
3–5 years	4,636,944	86.1%
6–9 years	9,016,050	78%
10–14 years	8,114,096	65%
15–30 years	5,675,815	57.4%

Most common MOT failure categories

Ranked by how many of the 1,152 model groups list the category among their six most common initial failures.

1. Headlamp Aim934 of 1,152 models
2. Condition917 of 1,152 models
3. Tread Depth626 of 1,152 models
4. Mechanical Brake Components604 of 1,152 models
5. Wipers504 of 1,152 models
6. Washers472 of 1,152 models
7. Exhaust Emissions447 of 1,152 models
8. Brake Performance418 of 1,152 models
9. Suspension Arms341 of 1,152 models
10. Position Lamps259 of 1,152 models

MOT pass rates by make

Every make in the DVSA dataset, with its test-weighted initial pass rate. Open a make to see its models.

Ford68.1% pass78 models Volkswagen71.9% pass85 models Vauxhall65.3% pass80 models BMW78.5% pass95 models Mercedes-Benz76.3% pass56 models Nissan68% pass44 models Toyota73.9% pass46 models Audi77.8% pass51 models Peugeot65.3% pass57 models Citroen62.3% pass34 models Renault62.1% pass35 models Kia73.1% pass33 models Land Rover75.9% pass41 models Hyundai72.9% pass40 models Honda71.8% pass18 models MINI76.3% pass19 models Skoda75.7% pass17 models Fiat66.8% pass34 models SEAT73.6% pass21 models Mazda72% pass21 models Volvo72.9% pass31 models Suzuki72.9% pass22 models Jaguar78.5% pass16 models Mitsubishi70.9% pass18 models Dacia69.3% pass6 models Porsche86.6% pass7 models Lexus83.7% pass17 models MG79% pass20 models Tesla83.1% pass6 models Smart (MCC)72.1% pass5 models Alfa Romeo67.3% pass10 models Chevrolet53.1% pass9 models Jeep76% pass7 models Subaru73.7% pass7 models Saab63.3% pass2 models Isuzu67.4% pass4 models DS68.6% pass4 models Abarth77.2% pass3 models SsangYong65.6% pass5 models Rover62.6% pass4 models Aston Martin91.9% pass7 models Bentley91.2% pass4 models Daihatsu60.9% pass4 models Chrysler60.8% pass4 models London Taxis International61.9% pass1 model LEVC88.4% pass2 models Maserati81.8% pass4 models Chrysler-Jeep62.9% pass3 models Infiniti81% pass2 models Lotus87% pass2 models Iveco65.5% pass1 model Polestar87.4% pass1 model Morgan88.9% pass2 models Ferrari94.4% pass2 models Smart70.2% pass1 model TVR84.8% pass1 model LDV54% pass1 model Perodua67.1% pass1 model Dodge55.6% pass1 model

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Frequently asked questions

What is the average MOT pass rate in the UK?

71.2% of class-4 initial MOT tests passed first time in 2024, across 27,451,261 tests in DVSA's anonymised dataset. Tests that failed or needed a pass-after-rectification repair are counted as initial failures.

What percentage of cars fail their MOT?

About 28.8% of cars did not pass at the first attempt in 2024. Most are repaired and pass on retest, so the initial pass rate is lower than the share of cars that ultimately hold a valid MOT.

Does MOT pass rate vary by car age?

Sharply. 86.1% of cars aged 3–5 years passed first time, falling to 57.4% for cars aged 15–30 years. Age matters more than make for most vehicles.

What are the most common MOT failures?

Across the 1,152 published model groups, the categories appearing most often in a model's top six are headlamp aim, condition, tread depth, mechanical brake components, wipers.

Is a high MOT pass rate the same as reliability?

No. The MOT inspects testable items on the day — brakes, lights, tyres, emissions, structure. It says nothing about engine or gearbox longevity, running costs or how one particular car has been maintained.

What this does—and does not—mean

MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.

Scope: class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using DVSA test IDs. Model groups cover 27,451,261 of the 28,485,981 initial tests in the year; the remainder sit in groups below the publication floor.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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