MOT pass rates / Tesla
Tesla MOT pass rates and common failures
Tesla cars passed 83.1% of their MOTs first time in 2024, across 74,227 class-4 initial tests and 6 model groups. That is above the 71.2% UK average, and ranks Tesla 11th of 59 makes in the dataset.
Pass rates track age more strongly than badge: an older Tesla is compared here against older cars of every other make, so read the age table below before drawing conclusions about the brand.
Checking a Tesla?
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 Tesla cars fail on
The items most often behind a first-test failure across Tesla model groups, as a share of Tesla tests. DVSA publishes each model group's six most common categories, so this ranks the biggest published causes rather than every possible one.
- Condition — 7.4% of Tesla tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Tread Depth — 5.6% of Tesla tests. Tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit. Budget for tyres, and treat it as a sign of how the car was maintained.
- Suspension Arms — 1.5% of Tesla tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Headlamp Aim — 1.3% of Tesla tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Washers — 0.7% of Tesla tests. Empty or blocked washers. Trivial, but again a sign of the last owner's care.
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System — 0.7% of Tesla tests. The TPMS warning is on. Often a sensor battery, which is a per-wheel cost.
- Wipers — 0.3% of Tesla tests. Worn wiper blades. Minutes to fix, and a fair hint that servicing was skipped.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 0.1% of Tesla tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
Tesla MOT pass rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 64,944 | 83.6% |
| 6–9 years | 8,858 | 79.6% |
| 10–14 years | 425 | 71.3% |
Tesla models by MOT pass rate
| Model | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Model 3 Long Range AWD | 33,607 | 84.3% |
| Model 3 Standard Range + | 18,875 | 84.4% |
| Model 3 Performance AWD | 10,010 | 80.4% |
| Model S | 6,494 | 79.4% |
| Model X | 3,877 | 79.9% |
| Model X Long Range AWD | 1,364 | 80.5% |
How many Tesla vehicles are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 285,673 licensed and 2,231 SORN Tesla vehicles across 4 published model groups.
Licensed and SORN counts for every Tesla model
Before you buy
- Condition — 7.4% of tests in 2024. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Tread Depth — 5.6% of tests in 2024. Tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit. Budget for tyres, and treat it as a sign of how the car was maintained.
- Suspension Arms — 1.5% of tests in 2024. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Headlamp Aim — 1.3% of tests in 2024. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Check the actual Tesla — 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 Tesla MOT pass rate?
83.1% of 74,227 class-4 initial MOT tests on Tesla cars passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average across all published models.
Which Tesla has the best MOT pass rate?
Of the Tesla model groups with a substantial sample, the Model 3 Standard Range + has the highest initial pass rate at 84.4% across 18,875 tests. Pass rates track vehicle age closely, so newer model groups tend to sit higher.
Does a good Tesla 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 Tesla'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.