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.
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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% |
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.