MOT pass rates / MG
MG MOT pass rates and common failures
MG cars passed 79% of their MOTs first time in 2024, across 86,688 class-4 initial tests and 20 model groups. That is above the 71.2% UK average, and ranks MG 14th of 59 makes in the dataset.
Pass rates track age more strongly than badge: an older MG is compared here against older cars of every other make, so read the age table below before drawing conclusions about the brand.
Checking a MG?
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 MG cars fail on
The items most often behind a first-test failure across MG model groups, as a share of MG tests. DVSA publishes each model group's six most common categories, so this ranks the biggest published causes rather than every possible one.
- Brake Performance — 3.2% of MG tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Headlamp Aim — 2.6% of MG tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Condition — 2.6% of MG tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Exhaust Emissions — 2.1% of MG 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.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 1.8% of MG tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Headlamps — 1.3% of MG tests. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
- Washers — 1.3% of MG tests. Empty or blocked washers. Trivial, but again a sign of the last owner's care.
- Suspension Arms — 0.9% of MG tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
MG MOT pass rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 51,268 | 85.4% |
| 6–9 years | 15,903 | 73% |
| 10–14 years | 2,738 | 65.3% |
| 15–30 years | 16,773 | 67.1% |
MG models by MOT pass rate
| Model | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| ZS | 15,510 | 77.7% |
| 3 | 15,066 | 74.9% |
| ZS Exclusive EV | 9,334 | 87.6% |
| TF | 8,302 | 68.8% |
| ZS Exclusive Vti-tech | 4,845 | 88.3% |
| MGF | 4,705 | 66.8% |
| HS Exclusive S-A | 3,399 | 89.6% |
| 5 Exclusive | 3,299 | 86.8% |
| HS Exclusive | 3,021 | 88.6% |
| ZS Excite Vti-tech | 2,583 | 85.3% |
| GS | 2,435 | 72.9% |
| 3 Exclusive NAV Vti-tech | 1,845 | 84% |
| ZR | 1,786 | 63.7% |
| 6 | 1,769 | 62.2% |
| ZS Excite EV | 1,707 | 83.7% |
| ZS Exclusive T-gdi Auto | 1,672 | 89.8% |
| 5 Excite | 1,504 | 84.5% |
| HS Excite S-A | 1,478 | 88% |
| HS Exclusive PHEV Auto | 1,267 | 93% |
| ZT | 1,161 | 67.6% |
How many MG vehicles are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 438,280 licensed and 54,088 SORN MG vehicles across 30 published model groups.
Licensed and SORN counts for every MG model
Before you buy
- Brake Performance — 3.2% of tests in 2024. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Headlamp Aim — 2.6% of tests in 2024. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Condition — 2.6% of tests in 2024. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Exhaust Emissions — 2.1% of tests in 2024. 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.
- Check the actual MG — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Common questions
What is the MG MOT pass rate?
79% of 86,688 class-4 initial MOT tests on MG cars passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average across all published models.
Which MG has the best MOT pass rate?
Of the MG model groups with a substantial sample, the ZS Exclusive EV has the highest initial pass rate at 87.6% across 9,334 tests. Pass rates track vehicle age closely, so newer model groups tend to sit higher.
Does a good MG 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.
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 MG'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.