MOT performance
MOT results for 19-year-old cars
56.2% of 1,063,140 MOT tests on 19-year-old cars and light vans in 2023–2024 passed first time, 15.3 points below the all-ages rate of 71.5%, between 56.1% at 18 and 56.9% at 20 years. 10.5% had at least one dangerous defect. These cars were mostly first registered 2003–2005, at a median 104,328 miles.
1,063,140 MOT tests on 1,014,696 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 | 56.2% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 1,063,140 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 10.5% | n = 1,063,140 |
| Median mileage at test | 104,328 miles | n = 1,063,140 |
| Vehicles tested | 1,014,696 | 2023–2024 |
| Fuel mix of tests | Petrol 68%, Diesel 32% | n = 1,063,140 |
Where 19-year-old cars fail
Share of tests that failed on each area of the test. The steepest rises since 18 years are in steering (4.1% → 4.5%), registration plates and vin (0.7% → 0.7%), noise, emissions and leaks (7.0% → 7.4%).
| Area | Failed on it | At 18 years |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 21.7% | 21.7% |
| Suspension | 17.0% | 17.3% |
| Brakes | 13.9% | 13.7% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| Driver's view of the road | 7.7% | 7.5% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.4% | 7.0% |
| Tyres | 6.7% | 7.1% |
| Steering | 4.5% | 4.1% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 3.1% | 3.0% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| Road wheels | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| 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 | 5.31% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 4.25% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.97% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 3.38% |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 3.11% |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 2.92% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.87% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.76% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 2.71% |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | Suspension | 2.70% |
Failures that peak at 19 years
Of the most common MOT failure items, these are found most often on cars of exactly this age:
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction
- Washers: not working
- SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault
- Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- Wheel bearings: has excessive play
- Headlamp: has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced
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
- 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
- 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.