MOT performance
MOT results for 11-year-old cars
64.8% of 3,650,413 MOT tests on 11-year-old cars and light vans in 2023–2024 passed first time, 6.7 points below the all-ages rate of 71.5%, between 67.5% at 10 and 62.3% at 12 years. 9.4% had at least one dangerous defect. These cars were mostly first registered 2011–2013, at a median 85,277 miles.
3,650,413 MOT tests on 3,517,446 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 64.8% | ±0 pts (95%), n = 3,650,413 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 9.4% | n = 3,650,413 |
| Median mileage at test | 85,277 miles | n = 3,650,413 |
| Vehicles tested | 3,517,446 | 2023–2024 |
| Fuel mix of tests | Petrol 48%, Diesel 51% | n = 3,650,413 |
Where 11-year-old cars fail
Share of tests that failed on each area of the test. The steepest rises since 10 years are in body, chassis and structure (3.3% → 4.0%), seat belts and airbags (0.8% → 1.0%), suspension (10.9% → 12.7%).
| Area | Failed on it | At 10 years |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 14.8% | 12.8% |
| Suspension | 12.7% | 10.9% |
| Brakes | 8.0% | 7.2% |
| Tyres | 7.1% | 7.0% |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.1% | 4.7% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 4.0% | 3.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.4% | 3.0% |
| Steering | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Road wheels | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Most common failure items at this age
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.80% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 3.71% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.97% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.67% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.33% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.20% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.07% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.95% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 1.83% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play | Steering | 1.81% |
Failures that peak at 11 years
Of the most common MOT failure items, these are found most often on cars of exactly this age:
Every age
- 3 years · 87.1% pass first time
- 4 years · 85.3% pass first time
- 5 years · 83.0% pass first time
- 6 years · 80.3% pass first time
- 7 years · 77.4% pass first time
- 8 years · 74.1% pass first time
- 9 years · 70.6% pass first time
- 10 years · 67.5% pass first time
- 12 years · 62.3% pass first time
- 13 years · 60.1% pass first time
- 14 years · 58.4% pass first time
- 15 years · 57.3% pass first time
- 16 years · 56.6% pass first time
- 17 years · 56.2% pass first time
- 18 years · 56.1% pass first time
- 19 years · 56.2% pass first time
- 20 years · 56.9% pass first time
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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.