How likely is your car to pass its MOT? Explore national pass rates, failure reasons and make-by-make comparisons based on millions of real DVSA test results.
Select a make to see its average MOT pass rate and top failure reasons.
Top 20 makes by volume, ranked by pass rate
Source: DVSA MOT testing data (2024/25 test year)
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Check your vehicle freeDistribution of failure categories across all models tested
Source: DVSA MOT testing data (2024/25 test year)
How often each category appears as a failure reason across all tested models.
Every vehicle over three years old in the UK must pass an annual MOT test to confirm it meets minimum road safety and environmental standards. The test covers everything from lights and brakes to exhaust emissions and structural integrity. With over 20 million tests carried out each year, the data paints a clear picture of which cars hold up best over time and which areas cause the most problems.
The national first-time pass rate sits at around 78.1%, meaning roughly one in five vehicles fails its MOT on the first attempt. That figure might sound high, but many failures are for relatively minor issues: a blown bulb, worn wiper blade, or a tyre just below the legal tread depth. These are cheap and quick to fix, which is why the retest pass rate is significantly higher.
Japanese and Korean manufacturers consistently top the reliability charts. Brands like Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Kia regularly achieve pass rates above 80%, reflecting their engineering focus on durability and lower maintenance costs. At the other end, vehicles that are typically higher-mileage or used commercially, such as vans and larger SUVs, tend to have lower pass rates due to harder working lives.
Suspension is the single most common failure category, accounting for the largest share of MOT failures across all makes. This includes worn bushes, damaged springs, leaking shock absorbers and corroded components. Brakes come a close second, with worn pads, scored discs, and corroded brake lines being frequent issues, particularly on older vehicles.
Lighting failures remain extremely common and are among the easiest to prevent. A quick walk-around check before your MOT can catch blown bulbs, cracked lenses or misaligned headlamps. Similarly, tyre issues, including tread depth below the 1.6mm legal minimum and sidewall damage, are a major contributor to first-time failures.
Electric vehicles are beginning to show notably higher pass rates than their petrol and diesel counterparts. With fewer mechanical components, no exhaust system and regenerative braking that reduces pad wear, EVs like the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf consistently achieve pass rates above 84%. As the EV fleet grows, this trend is expected to push the national average upward.
If you want to maximise your chances of passing first time, a pre-MOT inspection can make a real difference. Focus on the big-ticket items: check all lights, inspect tyre condition and tread, test your brakes, and listen for suspension knocks. Many garages offer a free or low-cost pre-MOT check that can save you the cost and inconvenience of a failure and retest.
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