MOT performance
MOT results for 9-year-old cars
70.6% of 4,706,087 MOT tests on 9-year-old cars and light vans in 2023–2024 passed first time, 0.9 points below the all-ages rate of 71.5%, between 74.1% at 8 and 67.5% at 10 years. 8.1% had at least one dangerous defect. These cars were mostly first registered 2013–2015, at a median 72,232 miles.
4,706,087 MOT tests on 4,527,030 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 70.6% | ±0 pts (95%), n = 4,706,087 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 8.1% | n = 4,706,087 |
| Median mileage at test | 72,232 miles | n = 4,706,087 |
| Vehicles tested | 4,527,030 | 2023–2024 |
| Fuel mix of tests | Petrol 46%, Diesel 52%, Hybrid 2% | n = 4,706,087 |
Where 9-year-old cars fail
Share of tests that failed on each area of the test. The steepest rises since 8 years are in steering (1.5% → 2.1%), body, chassis and structure (2.1% → 2.7%), lights, reflectors and electrical (8.3% → 10.5%).
| Area | Failed on it | At 8 years |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 10.5% | 8.3% |
| Suspension | 8.9% | 7.1% |
| Tyres | 7.0% | 6.8% |
| Brakes | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Driver's view of the road | 4.3% | 3.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.7% | 2.3% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 2.7% | 2.1% |
| Steering | 2.1% | 1.5% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Road wheels | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Most common failure items at this age
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 2.92% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.70% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.15% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.10% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.90% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.77% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.70% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 1.69% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 1.43% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.40% |
Failures that peak at 9 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
- 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.