MOT results by fuel

Hybrid car MOT pass rates: by age, by model and the failures typical of hybrid cars

Hybrid cars passed 85.6% of 2,050,967 MOT tests in 2023–2024 (DVSA data, 1,205,925 cars, average age 5.0 years). Against all cars of the same age and mileage they failed 25% less often. At 3 years old, their first MOT, 89.1% passed.

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Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto

Initial pass rate: 85.6%; 2,050,967 tests, 2023–2024
Tests with a dangerous defect: 4.3%; 0.73× cars of the same age and mileage
Models ranked: 55; at least 5,000 tests each

Hybrid cars’ pass rate by age, against other fuels

Hybrid cars had the higher pass rate at 17 of 17 ages from 3 to 19. By 19 years old 65.5% passed. Other fuels combine the remaining petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars, and differ in mileage and use.

MOT initial pass rate by age: hybrid cars and all other fuels
Age	Tests	Hybrid	Other fuels
3 years	374,292	89.1%	86.8%
4 years	278,784	87.7%	85.1%
5 years	235,269	86.1%	82.8%
6 years	188,801	84.4%	80.2%
7 years	147,214	83.0%	77.3%
8 years	114,207	81.0%	73.9%
10 years	52,461	78.3%	67.3%
12 years	23,940	72.0%	62.2%
15 years	13,589	69.4%	57.2%
18 years	2,921	64.8%	56.1%

Failures typical of hybrid cars

Items hybrid cars fail on at least 1.5 times as often as all cars of the same age and mileage band (a clear difference, at least 300 failures).

MOT failure items much more common on hybrid cars than on cars of the same age and mileage
Defect item	Tests failing	Share	vs all cars
Rear fog lamp: missing	671	0.033%	3.94×
Headlamp: not working on main beam	6,023	0.294%	2.32×
Exhaust system: shield missing where fitted as original equipment creating a risk of fire	324	0.016%	2.27×
Headlamp: has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced	833	0.041%	1.97×
Headlamp: light intensity severely reduced	1,317	0.064%	1.83×
Rear fog lamp: does not emit a steady red light	991	0.048%	1.73×

Failures hybrid cars rarely have

MOT failure items much less common on hybrid cars
Defect item	Tests failing	Share	vs all cars
On or after 01/01/2014: emissions exceed default limit of 0.7m-1	1	0.000%	0.00×
On or after 01/07/2008: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit	3	0.000%	0.00×
On or after 01/01/2014: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit	8	0.000%	0.01×
Emissions not tested: unable to be completed	27	0.001%	0.03×
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits	32	0.002%	0.03×
Catalyst emissions: hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits	12	0.001%	0.03×

Most common MOT failures on hybrid cars

Most common MOT failure items on hybrid cars
Defect item	Share of tests	vs all cars
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively	2.15%	1.09×
Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	1.67%	1.09×
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	1.43%	0.73×
Condition: has ply or cords exposed	1.09%	0.97×
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam	0.77%	0.90×
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	0.70%	0.41×
Position lamp: not working	0.61%	0.66×
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid	0.58%	0.62×
Headlamp aim: too low	0.57%	0.67×
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	0.56%	0.92×

By area of the test

Compared with all cars of the same age and mileage, hybrid cars fail most often on tyres (0.92×) and least often on noise, emissions and leaks (0.26×). 5.5% of tests recorded a minor defect and 32.2% an advisory.

Hybrid models with the fewest MOT failures for their age

1.00 = the failure rate of hybrid cars of the same age and mileage band. Raw pass rates are shown too, but younger models naturally pass more often.

Hybrid models ranked by MOT failures against hybrid cars of the same age and mileage, lowest first
Model	Tests	Average age	Pass rate	Failures vs similar
Lexus GS	5,248	8.0 yrs	89.7%	0.56×
Lexus ES	5,350	3.0 yrs	93.5%	0.58×
Lexus UX	19,222	3.0 yrs	94.0%	0.58×
Audi Q5	6,334	2.6 yrs	92.0%	0.69×
Lexus RX	46,085	8.7 yrs	85.9%	0.70×
Honda CR-V	21,551	2.9 yrs	92.7%	0.70×
Lexus NX	53,201	5.0 yrs	90.4%	0.72×
Lexus IS	26,627	6.9 yrs	87.5%	0.72×
Porsche Cayenne	7,452	4.7 yrs	90.0%	0.73×
Volvo XC40	29,995	2.4 yrs	92.0%	0.75×
LEVC TX	16,456	3.7 yrs	87.7%	0.78×
Mercedes-Benz GLC	9,893	2.7 yrs	91.6%	0.79×
Volvo XC60	22,911	2.7 yrs	90.6%	0.81×
Honda Jazz	34,672	4.1 yrs	91.3%	0.81×
Suzuki Vitara	8,659	2.4 yrs	92.1%	0.81×
Ford Kuga	13,029	2.4 yrs	91.4%	0.81×
Toyota Estima	12,614	10.5 yrs	81.2%	0.83×
Lexus CT	55,077	7.7 yrs	85.0%	0.83×
Land Rover Range Rover	5,547	4.0 yrs	89.6%	0.83×
Toyota RAV4	88,152	4.0 yrs	89.3%	0.86×

Hybrid models with the most MOT failures for their age

Hybrid models ranked by MOT failures against hybrid cars of the same age and mileage, highest first
Model	Tests	Average age	Pass rate	Failures vs similar
Hyundai i20	5,202	2.2 yrs	86.0%	1.55×
Kia Sportage	13,413	2.6 yrs	85.0%	1.39×
Peugeot 3008	6,178	4.4 yrs	80.3%	1.39×
Hyundai Kona	19,462	2.5 yrs	87.2%	1.32×
Toyota Yaris	179,167	5.9 yrs	83.7%	1.23×
MINI Hatch	12,488	3.1 yrs	86.7%	1.22×
Toyota Auris	133,837	7.4 yrs	78.6%	1.17×
BMW X5	14,717	3.4 yrs	84.9%	1.16×
Toyota Alphard	8,991	12.4 yrs	74.6%	1.15×
Honda Insight	7,630	11.8 yrs	70.2%	1.14×
Toyota C-HR	131,785	3.9 yrs	86.3%	1.13×
Hyundai Tucson	21,494	2.4 yrs	88.1%	1.12×
Suzuki Ignis	18,101	3.5 yrs	89.3%	1.09×
BMW 3 Series	70,562	3.7 yrs	85.0%	1.09×
Volvo XC90	24,252	3.8 yrs	85.4%	1.09×
Ford Mondeo	6,611	4.2 yrs	84.8%	1.08×
Audi A3	14,401	4.1 yrs	85.4%	1.08×
Mitsubishi Outlander	91,226	6.1 yrs	82.3%	1.07×
Volvo V60	6,959	3.5 yrs	85.8%	1.07×
Kia Niro	82,399	3.8 yrs	87.3%	1.04×

Other fuels

Petrol cars · 71.9% pass rate
Diesel cars · 69.6% pass rate
Electric cars · 84.6% pass rate

Limitations

Official data: DVSA anonymised MOT results (2023–2024), class 4 initial tests, cars at least 2.5 years old; fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type (plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped). 73 Auto analysis: comparisons apply national rates for each test's age and mileage band. Most hybrid cars on the road are young, so older ages rest on fewer tests and early models. MOT results reflect maintenance, mileage and use as well as design, so a model's rank is not a reliability rating.

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Where these figures come from

Anonymised MOT tests and results (2023 and 2024) — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Open Government Licence v3.0.

Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.