MOT performance
MOT failure “Registration plates: inscription illegible”: how common it is and which cars get it
“Registration plates: inscription illegible” (major defect, registration plates and vin) was recorded as a failure on 0.14% of UK MOT tests in 2023–2024: 88,084 tests, the number 77 most common failure item. It is 2.9 times as common at 10 years old (0.12%) as at 3 (0.04%). It is most common at 20 years old (0.40% of tests).
88,084 tests with this failure, 2023–2024
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Share of MOT tests | 0.14% | 88,084 tests, 2023–2024 |
| Rank among failure items | #77 | by number of tests |
| Most common at | 20 years old | 0.40% of tests at that age |
| Models compared | 315 | models with enough tests |
How it changes with age
By fuel
Diesel: 0.15% of tests; Petrol: 0.13% of tests; Hybrid: 0.06% of tests; Electric: 0.04% of tests. Fuel groups differ in age and mileage, so these raw shares are not like-for-like; the model tables below are.
Models that fail on it most often
Relative to cars of the same age and fuel (1.00 = national rate for this item). Only models with enough tests for the difference to be clear are ranked.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isuzu D-Max | 66,975 | 0.34% | +300% |
| Ford Transit Courier | 51,128 | 0.21% | +208% |
| Vauxhall Vivaro | 372,179 | 0.36% | +136% |
| Vauxhall Combo | 216,750 | 0.32% | +111% |
| Ford Transit Connect | 338,158 | 0.30% | +108% |
| Chevrolet Aveo | 18,782 | 0.36% | +101% |
| Mazda 5 | 22,878 | 0.39% | +89% |
| Hyundai Getz | 42,580 | 0.54% | +86% |
| Vauxhall Antara | 43,032 | 0.27% | +86% |
| Hyundai Coupe | 13,208 | 0.48% | +76% |
Models that fail on it least often
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley Continental | 29,070 | 0.01% | -94% |
| Porsche 911 | 100,223 | 0.02% | -92% |
| Jaguar XK | 16,340 | 0.02% | -91% |
| BMW M3 | 31,544 | 0.02% | -90% |
| Porsche Boxster | 65,604 | 0.03% | -88% |
| Jaguar Xkr | 17,216 | 0.03% | -88% |
| Toyota Alphard | 19,964 | 0.03% | -87% |
| Porsche Cayman | 29,543 | 0.02% | -87% |
| MG Tf | 19,430 | 0.05% | -87% |
| Jaguar XJ | 48,662 | 0.03% | -84% |
About this defect
The wording is DVSA's, from the MOT inspection manual. A high ratio for a model reflects its MOT record, which depends on maintenance and use as well as design. For one car, its own MOT history shows whether this has come up before.
Other common registration plates and vin failures
- Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements · 0.15% of tests
Check the car you are looking at
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
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.