MOT performance
MOT results for 14-year-old cars
58.4% of 2,802,860 MOT tests on 14-year-old cars and light vans in 2023–2024 passed first time, 13.1 points below the all-ages rate of 71.5%, between 60.1% at 13 and 57.3% at 15 years. 10.6% had at least one dangerous defect. These cars were mostly first registered 2008–2010, at a median 97,930 miles.
2,802,860 MOT tests on 2,689,191 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 | 58.4% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 2,802,860 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 10.6% | n = 2,802,860 |
| Median mileage at test | 97,930 miles | n = 2,802,860 |
| Vehicles tested | 2,689,191 | 2023–2024 |
| Fuel mix of tests | Petrol 58%, Diesel 41% | n = 2,802,860 |
Where 14-year-old cars fail
Share of tests that failed on each area of the test. The steepest rises since 13 years are in seat belts and airbags (1.3% → 1.6%), noise, emissions and leaks (4.8% → 5.6%), body, chassis and structure (5.4% → 6.3%).
| Area | Failed on it | At 13 years |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 19.2% | 18.1% |
| Suspension | 16.7% | 15.7% |
| Brakes | 10.6% | 9.9% |
| Tyres | 7.6% | 7.5% |
| Driver's view of the road | 6.5% | 6.1% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Steering | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Road wheels | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.5% | 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 | 5.71% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 4.18% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.71% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 3.18% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.63% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.48% |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 2.40% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.34% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.33% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 2.26% |
Failures that peak at 14 years
Of the most common MOT failure items, these are found most often on cars of exactly this age:
- Coil spring: fractured or broken
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam
- Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn
- Condition: has ply or cords exposed
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
- Side repeaters: not working
- Headlamp: insecure
- On or after 01/07/2008: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit
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
- 13 years · 60.1% 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.