MOT performance
MOT results for 13-year-old cars
60.1% of 3,175,830 MOT tests on 13-year-old cars and light vans in 2023–2024 passed first time, 11.5 points below the all-ages rate of 71.5%, between 62.3% at 12 and 58.4% at 14 years. 10.4% had at least one dangerous defect. These cars were mostly first registered 2009–2011, at a median 94,794 miles.
3,175,830 MOT tests on 3,053,014 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 60.1% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 3,175,830 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 10.4% | n = 3,175,830 |
| Median mileage at test | 94,794 miles | n = 3,175,830 |
| Vehicles tested | 3,053,014 | 2023–2024 |
| Fuel mix of tests | Petrol 54%, Diesel 45% | n = 3,175,830 |
Where 13-year-old cars fail
Share of tests that failed on each area of the test. The steepest rises since 12 years are in noise, emissions and leaks (3.9% → 4.8%), body, chassis and structure (4.7% → 5.4%), seat belts and airbags (1.1% → 1.3%).
| Area | Failed on it | At 12 years |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 18.1% | 16.5% |
| Suspension | 15.7% | 14.4% |
| Brakes | 9.9% | 9.0% |
| Tyres | 7.5% | 7.4% |
| Driver's view of the road | 6.1% | 5.5% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.8% | 3.9% |
| Steering | 3.2% | 2.9% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| 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 | 5.24% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 4.16% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.28% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 3.15% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.63% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.38% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.23% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.15% |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 2.12% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 2.09% |
Failures that peak at 13 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
- 12 years · 62.3% 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.