MOT pass rates by car model

How often do the UK's most popular cars pass their MOT first time? We analysed all 32,737,817 class 4 MOT tests carried out in Great Britain in 2023. The average first-time pass rate was 71.4%.

Grey and black Rover P4 saloon parked next to a white first-generation Range Rover at a car show
Pass rates depend on age, mileage and maintenance as much as the model. Older cars like these need extra care before an MOT.

Most common MOT failure areas

Share of all tests failing in each area, 2023
  • Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 11.3%
  • Suspension 8.9%
  • Brakes 6.8%
  • Tyres 6.3%
  • Visibility 4.8%
  • Body, chassis, structure 3.4%
  • Noise, emissions and leaks 3.1%
  • Steering 1.8%
  • Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 1.0%
  • Road Wheels 0.4%

Best MOT pass rates

Highest first-time pass rates among the most-tested models
  • Mini Cooper 85.0% vs 71.4%
  • Audi Q5 83.7% vs 71.4%
  • Audi Q3 83.1% vs 71.4%
  • BMW X1 82.9% vs 71.4%
  • Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 82.8% vs 71.4%
  • Land Rover Discovery Sport 82.3% vs 71.4%
  • Hyundai Tucson 82.2% vs 71.4%
  • Volkswagen UP 81.5% vs 71.4%
  • Volkswagen Tiguan 81.0% vs 71.4%
  • Ford Ecosport 80.8% vs 71.4%

Average (71.4%)

Lowest MOT pass rates

Lowest first-time pass rates among the most-tested models
  • Peugeot 207 50.7% vs 71.4%
  • Renault Megane 54.3% vs 71.4%
  • Vauxhall Vivaro 55.2% vs 71.4%
  • Renault Clio 55.6% vs 71.4%
  • Renault Trafic 56.5% vs 71.4%
  • Citroen Berlingo 58.0% vs 71.4%
  • Vauxhall Combo 58.4% vs 71.4%
  • Citroen C4 60.3% vs 71.4%
  • Vauxhall Zafira 61.0% vs 71.4%
  • Peugeot Partner 62.2% vs 71.4%

Average (71.4%)

Low pass rates often reflect the age and mileage of the cars still on the road rather than poor design. Models with many older, high-mileage examples, or many used as taxis and work vehicles, tend to fail more often.

All 100 most-tested models

#ModelTestsPass rateTop fail area
1Ford Fiesta1,404,69566.0%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
2Ford Focus975,49068.0%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
3Vauxhall Corsa883,42362.5%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
4Volkswagen Golf879,92872.8%Suspension
5Vauxhall Astra696,49465.2%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
6Volkswagen Polo611,18266.6%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
7Nissan Qashqai553,46770.5%Suspension
8Toyota Yaris440,93271.3%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
9BMW 3 Series410,75672.4%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
10Audi A3410,45174.2%Suspension
11Mercedes-Benz C-Class385,80974.7%Suspension
12Honda Jazz327,82274.5%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
13Renault Clio326,52255.6%Suspension
14Ford Transit315,39862.5%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
15Fiat 500307,72468.7%Suspension
16Honda Civic293,95967.0%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
17Mini287,82562.4%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
18Nissan Juke277,34769.4%Suspension
19Volkswagen Transporter276,00666.8%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
20Audi A4264,16372.4%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
21Ford Kuga257,62079.1%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
22Nissan Micra254,90964.2%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
23Toyota Aygo248,52976.4%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
24Mercedes-Benz A-Class247,28875.9%Tyres
25Kia Sportage245,55377.0%Brakes
26Mercedes-Benz E-Class241,62077.5%Tyres
27Hyundai i10236,69073.8%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
28Skoda Fabia235,51771.2%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
29Vauxhall Zafira227,46861.0%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
30Vauxhall Mokka220,32274.3%Suspension
31Vauxhall Insignia216,99568.1%Suspension
32Ford Mondeo214,94266.5%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
33Audi A1204,83778.2%Suspension
34Honda CR-V203,52574.1%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
35Skoda Octavia202,47475.4%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
36Volkswagen Passat200,40370.2%Suspension
37Mini Cooper198,48485.0%Tyres
38Citroen C3194,08764.5%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
39Seat Ibiza192,80466.0%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
40Ford KA190,18868.2%Suspension
41Citroen Berlingo183,66158.0%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
42Volkswagen Tiguan182,77981.0%Suspension
43Peugeot 208181,88872.3%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
44Seat Leon177,36976.1%Suspension
45Kia Picanto176,68671.2%Brakes
46Ford Transit Connect170,25364.3%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
47Vauxhall Vivaro169,59355.2%Suspension
48Citroen C1168,04970.7%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
49Peugeot 207157,92250.7%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
50Toyota Auris157,60874.0%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
51Nissan Note157,33565.1%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
52Toyota Prius155,12378.4%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
53Peugeot Partner151,64962.2%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
54Volkswagen Caddy147,87768.6%Suspension
55Land Rover Discovery143,24471.7%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
56BMW 118142,63477.2%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
57Peugeot 308140,80365.2%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
58Citroen C4140,20560.3%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
59Renault Captur134,09678.4%Suspension
60Land Rover Range Rover Evoque133,57782.8%Tyres
61Land Rover Freelander129,59966.1%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
62Peugeot 3008127,01070.8%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
63Audi A6126,37178.8%Tyres
64Suzuki Swift126,06670.7%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
65Hyundai i20124,66773.6%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
66Mazda 2122,82469.4%Suspension
67Audi A5121,26678.4%Tyres
68Land Rover Range Rover Sport120,86179.5%Brakes
69Volkswagen UP119,98581.5%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
70Peugeot 107118,76264.3%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
71Ford C-Max117,72370.3%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
72Renault Megane116,34554.3%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
73Kia Ceed116,24366.8%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
74Audi TT115,64375.8%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
75Hyundai Tucson114,92382.2%Brakes
76BMW 116110,32673.5%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
77Mazda 3109,80068.3%Suspension
78Hyundai i30106,66965.9%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
79Audi Q3106,16083.1%Suspension
80Renault Trafic103,01756.5%Suspension
81Land Rover Defender102,53667.4%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
82Jaguar XF101,67075.8%Tyres
83Vauxhall Meriva101,05762.4%Suspension
84Vauxhall Combo100,48658.4%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
85Volvo V40100,47573.3%Suspension
86BMW X199,78082.9%Tyres
87Ford Ranger99,27670.8%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
88Dacia Sandero98,21770.2%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
89Kia Rio98,20369.8%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
90Peugeot 200898,04673.4%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
91Ford Ecosport97,99880.8%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
92Audi Q597,96383.7%Tyres
93Mazda MX-594,53273.8%Suspension
94Nissan X-Trail94,32471.0%Suspension
95BMW X394,16379.1%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
96Fiat Panda92,61265.5%Suspension
97Land Rover Discovery Sport92,10182.3%Tyres
98Toyota RAV491,29579.0%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
99Volvo XC6091,07378.8%Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
100Land Rover Range Rover90,53977.6%Suspension

How we worked this out

We used DVSA's anonymised MOT testing data for 2023 and counted normal class 4 tests (not retests) for each make and model as recorded at the test. A first-time pass means the vehicle passed without repairs. Tests where faults were fixed at the station within an hour (PRS) count as fails, matching DVSA's own statistics. Abandoned and aborted tests are excluded.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average MOT pass rate?

In 2023, 71.4% of class 4 vehicles (cars, taxis and light vans) passed their MOT first time, from 32,737,817 normal tests.

Which popular car has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the 100 most-tested models, the Mini Cooper had the highest first-time pass rate at 85.0%.

Which popular car has the worst MOT pass rate?

The Peugeot 207 had the lowest first-time pass rate of the 100 most-tested models, at 50.7%. Older average age and higher mileage usually explain low pass rates.

What is the most common reason for an MOT fail?

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment caused 11.3% of all tests to fail. See our common MOT failures guide for a pre-test checklist.