MOT performance
MOT results for 3-year-old cars
87.1% of 3,907,416 MOT tests on 3-year-old cars and light vans in 2023–2024 passed first time, 15.5 points above the all-ages rate of 71.5%. 4.3% had at least one dangerous defect. These cars were mostly first registered 2019–2021, at a median 27,425 miles.
3,907,416 MOT tests on 3,736,907 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 | 87.1% | ±0 pts (95%), n = 3,907,416 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 4.3% | n = 3,907,416 |
| Median mileage at test | 27,425 miles | n = 3,907,416 |
| Vehicles tested | 3,736,907 | 2023–2024 |
| Fuel mix of tests | Petrol 57%, Diesel 28%, Hybrid 10%, Electric 4% | n = 3,907,416 |
Where 3-year-old cars fail
Share of tests that failed on each area of the test.
| Area | Failed on it |
|---|---|
| Tyres | 4.7% |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.4% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.0% |
| Brakes | 2.1% |
| Suspension | 0.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.7% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.3% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.3% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.2% |
| Road wheels | 0.2% |
| Steering | 0.1% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% |
Most common failure items at this age
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.35% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.59% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 1.36% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 1.20% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 0.92% |
| Headlamp aim: too high | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 0.67% |
| Headlamp aim: too low | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 0.64% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 0.61% |
| Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure | Tyres | 0.47% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 0.39% |
Failures that peak at 3 years
Of the most common MOT failure items, these are found most often on cars of exactly this age:
Every age
- 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
- 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.