MOT results by fuel

Petrol car MOT pass rates: by age, by model and the failures typical of petrol cars

Petrol cars passed 71.9% of 34,937,909 MOT tests in 2023–2024 (DVSA data, 18,191,473 cars, average age 10.0 years). Against all cars of the same age and mileage they failed 1.03× as often. At 3 years old, their first MOT, 88.4% passed.

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

Initial pass rate: 71.9%; 34,937,909 tests, 2023–2024
Tests with a dangerous defect: 7.2%; 1.01× cars of the same age and mileage
Models ranked: 332; at least 5,000 tests each

Petrol cars’ pass rate by age, against other fuels

Petrol cars had the higher pass rate at 16 of 18 ages from 3 to 20. By 20 years old 57.2% passed. Other fuels combine the remaining petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars, and differ in mileage and use.

MOT initial pass rate by age: petrol cars and all other fuels
Age	Tests	Petrol	Other fuels
3 years	2,212,200	88.4%	85.1%
4 years	2,722,029	86.4%	83.7%
5 years	2,663,768	84.0%	81.8%
6 years	2,514,221	81.2%	79.4%
7 years	2,458,842	78.3%	76.6%
8 years	2,364,300	75.1%	73.2%
10 years	1,963,769	68.2%	66.8%
12 years	1,653,503	63.0%	61.5%
15 years	1,460,840	57.1%	57.3%
18 years	898,720	56.4%	55.5%
20 years	560,295	57.2%	55.9%

Failures typical of petrol cars

Items petrol 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 petrol cars than on cars of the same age and mileage
Defect item	Tests failing	Share	vs all cars
Catalyst emissions: emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration	8,665	0.025%	1.73×
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits	88,260	0.253%	1.68×
Catalyst emissions: emits dense blue smoke at idle	1,461	0.004%	1.68×
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits	133,361	0.382%	1.68×
Emissions not tested: not tested	10,332	0.030%	1.66×
Catalyst emissions: hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits	37,740	0.108%	1.65×
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits	349,147	0.999%	1.65×
Catalyst emissions: hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits	48,390	0.139%	1.65×
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits	68,571	0.196%	1.65×
Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits	39,124	0.112%	1.64×
Catalytic converter: missing where one was fitted as standard	4,882	0.014%	1.64×
Oxygen sensor: obviously defective	1,159	0.003%	1.64×

Failures petrol cars rarely have

MOT failure items much less common on petrol cars
Defect item	Tests failing	Share	vs all cars
On or after 01/01/2014: on a vehicle fitted with a diesel particulate filter emits visible smoke of any colour	7	0.000%	0.01×
Leaf spring: main leaf fractured	24	0.000%	0.01×
On or after 01/07/2008: diesel particulate filter shows evidence of tampering.	5	0.000%	0.01×
Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo: emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine	85	0.000%	0.01×
Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo: emits excessive smoke or vapour likely to obscure the vision of other road users	28	0.000%	0.01×
Particulate filter: obviously defective	5	0.000%	0.01×

Most common MOT failures on petrol cars

Most common MOT failure items on petrol cars
Defect item	Share of tests	vs all cars
Position lamp: not working	2.57%	1.10×
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively	2.28%	1.04×
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	2.23%	1.05×
Coil spring: fractured or broken	2.19%	1.00×
Stop lamp: not working	2.14%	1.12×
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	1.68%	1.01×
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid	1.51%	1.09×
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect	1.41%	1.14×
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam	1.41%	1.09×
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction	1.36%	1.46×

By area of the test

Compared with all cars of the same age and mileage, petrol cars fail most often on noise, emissions and leaks (1.17×) and least often on seat belts and airbags (0.98×). 10.8% of tests recorded a minor defect and 50.7% an advisory.

Petrol models with the fewest MOT failures for their age

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

Petrol models ranked by MOT failures against petrol cars of the same age and mileage, lowest first
Model	Tests	Average age	Pass rate	Failures vs similar
Bentley Continental	29,059	12.0 yrs	91.1%	0.34×
Aston Martin DB9	8,666	15.0 yrs	90.0%	0.36×
Aston Martin Vantage	15,823	11.4 yrs	92.0%	0.36×
BMW M5	7,958	13.7 yrs	86.8%	0.38×
BMW M3	31,528	14.8 yrs	85.7%	0.41×
Porsche 911	100,183	15.2 yrs	87.9%	0.42×
Porsche Cayman	29,539	9.9 yrs	88.9%	0.43×
Audi R8	7,678	10.2 yrs	90.1%	0.43×
Porsche Macan	39,412	4.6 yrs	92.8%	0.45×
Honda S2000	10,058	18.7 yrs	80.9%	0.49×
Audi A8	5,153	13.2 yrs	82.8%	0.50×
Lotus Elise	10,203	18.8 yrs	85.4%	0.52×
Mercedes-Benz SL	43,410	16.9 yrs	82.9%	0.54×
Porsche Cayenne	25,914	10.6 yrs	83.2%	0.54×
Porsche Boxster	65,594	15.7 yrs	82.2%	0.55×
Mercedes-Benz Cl	6,439	17.4 yrs	77.7%	0.55×
Ford Sierra	5,480	25.0 yrs	86.0%	0.55×
Jaguar F-Type	28,637	6.4 yrs	90.6%	0.56×
Lexus LS	5,465	20.2 yrs	76.7%	0.56×
Mercedes-Benz S-Class	14,498	14.4 yrs	81.4%	0.58×

Petrol models with the most MOT failures for their age

Petrol models ranked by MOT failures against petrol cars of the same age and mileage, highest first
Model	Tests	Average age	Pass rate	Failures vs similar
Dacia Duster	70,319	4.0 yrs	78.1%	1.50×
Dacia Sandero	162,457	5.8 yrs	72.3%	1.48×
DS DS 3	47,976	6.0 yrs	72.1%	1.48×
SsangYong Tivoli	7,718	5.5 yrs	74.1%	1.47×
Ford Transit Courier	5,646	3.9 yrs	75.1%	1.45×
Vauxhall Combo	9,902	4.9 yrs	77.3%	1.44×
Fiat Tipo	18,237	5.1 yrs	74.2%	1.43×
Chevrolet Matiz	22,202	15.0 yrs	50.8%	1.43×
Chevrolet Aveo	17,409	12.7 yrs	49.2%	1.40×
Citroen DS3	73,670	10.0 yrs	55.9%	1.38×
MG MG3	39,967	5.5 yrs	76.6%	1.38×
Chevrolet Kalos	5,629	16.2 yrs	47.2%	1.37×
Renault Clio	524,118	11.2 yrs	57.3%	1.36×
Suzuki Baleno	13,148	5.9 yrs	75.9%	1.32×
Chevrolet Spark	30,500	11.3 yrs	55.4%	1.32×
Dacia Logan	15,817	5.9 yrs	72.9%	1.31×
Renault Modus	19,584	15.6 yrs	50.9%	1.28×
Citroen C4	98,621	8.0 yrs	68.2%	1.28×
MG GS	5,736	5.5 yrs	76.5%	1.27×
Peugeot 106	9,811	22.5 yrs	55.2%	1.27×

Other fuels

Diesel cars · 69.6% pass rate
Hybrid cars · 85.6% 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. 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.