MOT performance
MOT results for 12-year-old cars
62.3% of 3,355,332 MOT tests on 12-year-old cars and light vans in 2023–2024 passed first time, 9.2 points below the all-ages rate of 71.5%, between 64.8% at 11 and 60.1% at 13 years. 10.0% had at least one dangerous defect. These cars were mostly first registered 2010–2012, at a median 91,427 miles.
3,355,332 MOT tests on 3,226,537 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 62.3% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 3,355,332 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 10.0% | n = 3,355,332 |
| Median mileage at test | 91,427 miles | n = 3,355,332 |
| Vehicles tested | 3,226,537 | 2023–2024 |
| Fuel mix of tests | Petrol 49%, Diesel 49% | n = 3,355,332 |
Where 12-year-old cars fail
Share of tests that failed on each area of the test. The steepest rises since 11 years are in body, chassis and structure (4.0% → 4.7%), seat belts and airbags (1.0% → 1.1%), noise, emissions and leaks (3.4% → 3.9%).
| Area | Failed on it | At 11 years |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 16.5% | 14.8% |
| Suspension | 14.4% | 12.7% |
| Brakes | 9.0% | 8.0% |
| Tyres | 7.4% | 7.1% |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.5% | 5.1% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 4.7% | 4.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.9% | 3.4% |
| Steering | 2.9% | 2.6% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.1% | 1.0% |
| Road wheels | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 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 | 4.53% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 3.92% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 3.09% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.94% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.49% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.20% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.19% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.08% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 2.00% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play | Steering | 1.98% |
Failures that peak at 12 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
- 11 years · 64.8% 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.