What is the Mercedes-Benz MOT pass rate?

76.3% of 1,461,609 class-4 initial MOT tests on Mercedes-Benz cars passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average across all published models.

Which Mercedes-Benz has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the Mercedes-Benz model groups with a substantial sample, the B has the highest initial pass rate at 90.1% across 7,261 tests. Pass rates track vehicle age closely, so newer model groups tend to sit higher.

Does a good Mercedes-Benz pass rate mean the car I am looking at is fine?

No. A model-level rate describes a population, not one vehicle. Enter the registration for that car's own MOT, tax and mileage record, and check for outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before you buy.

MOT pass rates / Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz MOT pass rates and common failures

Name: Mercedes-Benz MOT statistics
Creator: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
License: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Mercedes-Benz cars passed 76.3% of their MOTs first time in 2024, across 1,461,609 class-4 initial tests and 56 model groups. That is above the 71.2% UK average, and ranks Mercedes-Benz 19th of 59 makes in the dataset.

Pass rates track age more strongly than badge: an older Mercedes-Benz is compared here against older cars of every other make, so read the age table below before drawing conclusions about the brand.

Checking a Mercedes-Benz?

Make-level pass rates cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.

Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.

What Mercedes-Benz cars fail on

The items most often behind a first-test failure across Mercedes-Benz model groups, as a share of Mercedes-Benz tests. DVSA publishes each model group's six most common categories, so this ranks the biggest published causes rather than every possible one.

Condition — 4.6% of Mercedes-Benz tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
Exhaust Emissions — 2.6% of Mercedes-Benz tests. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
Suspension Arms — 2.6% of Mercedes-Benz tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
Brake Performance — 2.2% of Mercedes-Benz tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
Headlamp Aim — 1.9% of Mercedes-Benz tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
Tread Depth — 1.8% of Mercedes-Benz tests. Tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit. Budget for tyres, and treat it as a sign of how the car was maintained.
Springs — 1.7% of Mercedes-Benz tests. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
Mechanical Brake Components — 0.9% of Mercedes-Benz tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.

Mercedes-Benz MOT pass rate by age

Age at test	Tests	Initial pass rate
3–5 years	279,476	86.8%
6–9 years	573,118	80.6%
10–14 years	343,530	70.5%
15–30 years	264,720	63.6%

Mercedes-Benz models by MOT pass rate

Model	Tests	Initial pass rate
C	325,422	74.4%
A-class	219,787	74.6%
E	211,027	76.9%
A	84,391	87.8%
Vito	75,174	66.8%
GLC	59,213	86.5%
B-class	56,323	70.1%
GLA	54,689	82.6%
SLK	51,739	71.8%
CLA	46,962	79.6%
ML	29,536	71.7%
GLE	25,681	87.3%
CLK	25,412	62.4%
S-class	23,346	82.3%
Sprinter	19,997	70.2%
CLS	18,113	73.8%
SL	17,763	82.9%
Citan	17,261	59.9%
V	9,610	80%
SLC	7,831	85.8%
CLC	7,585	56.5%
B	7,261	90.1%
Viano	4,913	65.1%
A 250 AMG Line E Auto	4,167	87.8%
X	3,665	78.8%
GLC 300 AMG Line Prem + D 4M A	2,890	89.9%
GLA 200 AMG Line Edition + A	2,647	90.9%
GLC 300 AMG Line Prem D 4M A	2,620	89.1%
A 250 AMG Line Premium E Auto	2,560	90.4%
EQC 400 AMG Line 4matic	2,558	88%
E 220 AMG LNE NGT ED PRM + D A	2,471	82.5%
EQA 250 AMG Line	2,440	87.7%
GLB 220 AMG Line Prem D 4M A	2,233	90.2%
GL	2,228	80.7%
GLA 180 AMG Line Edition Auto	2,216	90.3%
A 200	2,002	69.1%
R-class	1,974	68%
CLA 220 AMG Line Premium + D A	1,901	87.2%
Citan 109 Pure CDI	1,815	67.8%
GLC 300 AMG Line 4matic Auto	1,794	90.4%
A 250 AMG Line Executive E A	1,670	86.7%
CL 500	1,609	77.8%
A 250 AMG Line Premium + E A	1,555	89.5%
CLA 250 AMG Line Premium E A	1,395	85.3%
GLB 200 AMG Line Auto	1,365	91.1%
GLS	1,324	86.3%
EQC 400 AMG Line Premium + 4M	1,271	79.2%
G	1,254	91.7%
GLA 250 Exclusive Edition E A	1,247	89.6%
EQC 400 AMG Line Premium 4M	1,236	81.6%
G-class	1,155	83.4%
CL	1,128	78.9%
GLA 200 AMG Line Edition A	1,078	89.7%
C 320	1,075	64.9%
GLA 200 AMG Line Executive A	1,025	91.9%
GLC 300 AMG Line Prem + 4M A	1,005	91%

Methodology and limitations

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 official DVSA test IDs.

Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Check the actual car

Enter the registration for that Mercedes-Benz's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.