What you'll see
- MOT failure rate for that specific model
- How it compares to the national average
- Most common MOT failure categories
- Full MOT test history for your specific car
- Every advisory, defect and dangerous item recorded
- Mileage at each MOT test
Why check MOT failure rates before buying?
MOT failure rates are one of the best objective measures of a car model's reliability. A model with a 15% failure rate is fundamentally more reliable in day-to-day ownership than one with a 35% rate. That difference translates directly into money: fewer trips to the garage, lower repair bills, less time off the road. Yet most buyers never check this before purchasing. They focus on the purchase price and ignore the running costs that follow.
The national average MOT first-time failure rate is around 20%. Models that beat this consistently, like many Toyota and Honda models, tend to be cheaper to own over time. Models that significantly exceed it, often older European diesels and certain premium brands, cost more in maintenance. Our check shows you exactly where the model you are looking at sits on this scale.
Beyond the overall rate, we show you what specifically fails on each model. Some models have a high failure rate because of one persistent weakness, perhaps suspension bushes or brake discs that wear quickly. Others fail across multiple categories, suggesting more general quality issues. Knowing what fails helps you inspect the car more effectively and budget for the repairs you are most likely to face.
If you are choosing between two similar cars, MOT failure rates can be the tiebreaker. A Ford Focus and a Vauxhall Astra might look similar on paper, but their MOT failure profiles can be very different. One might sail through every year while the other needs annual work on suspension and emissions. Our data lets you compare before you commit.
We also show the full MOT history for your specific car, so you can see whether it has been well-maintained or whether it reflects the worst tendencies of its model. A car from a model with a high failure rate that has consistently passed first time is a better bet than one that matches the model's poor average.
What MOT failure rates really tell you
MOT failure rates reveal useful patterns, but they need context. A raw percentage without understanding what drives it can be misleading.
How failure rates are calculated
The national first-time MOT pass rate is approximately 64%, meaning around 36% of cars fail at first presentation. Rates vary significantly by age: 89% pass at 3 years old, dropping to 77% by year ten. When comparing a specific model's failure rate, always compare against the average for its age bracket, not against all cars. A 15-year-old car with a 70% pass rate is performing well; a 3-year-old car with a 70% pass rate is terrible.
The most common failure reasons
- Lighting (25%) - the single biggest failure category. Usually cheap to fix: bulbs, fuses, corroded connectors. A car that fails on lights alone is not mechanically neglected.
- Suspension (19%) - worn bushes, ball joints, shock absorbers, drop links. More expensive than lights but routine wear. Budget £200-£600 depending on the component.
- Brakes (16%) - worn pads, corroded discs, seized calipers, fluid leaks. Safety-critical and can be expensive if left too long. Budget £150-£400 per axle.
- Tyres (12%) - below legal tread depth (1.6mm) or damaged sidewalls. Budget £60-£150 per tyre for mainstream cars.
- Windscreen and visibility (9%) - chips in the swept area, wiper blade condition, mirror damage.
These five categories account for over 80% of all MOT failures.
What failure rates tell you about reliability
A high failure rate does not necessarily mean a model is unreliable. Budget cars attract owners who spend less on maintenance. Premium brands (Lexus at 86%, BMW at 84%, Jaguar at 84%) top the pass-rate charts partly because their owners tend to service regularly and invest in maintenance. Brand-level figures also mask huge model variation: a brand averaging 84% may have one model at 90% and another at 70%.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good MOT failure rate?
Any model with a failure rate below the national average of around 20% is performing well. Models below 15% are genuinely reliable. Below 10% is exceptional.typically only achieved by Japanese manufacturers like Toyota, Honda and Mazda on their most reliable models. Above 25% indicates a model that will need more regular maintenance to stay MOT-worthy. Above 35% is a red flag for ongoing costs.
Where does the failure rate data come from?
Our MOT failure rates are calculated from real MOT test results recorded by DVSA (the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). Every MOT test conducted in Great Britain is logged in the DVSA system, including whether the car passed or failed and what defects were found. We analyse this data by make and model to produce failure rates and identify the most common failure points.
Does a high failure rate mean the car is bad?
Not necessarily. Some excellent cars have higher failure rates because they are driven more miles (company cars, for example) or because a specific component wears faster on that model. The failure rate tells you what to expect in terms of maintenance, not whether the car is worth buying. A car with a high failure rate but a known, cheap-to-fix weakness can still be a good buy if you budget for it.
What are the most common MOT failure reasons?
Across all cars, the most common MOT failure categories are lighting (bulbs, alignment), suspension (worn bushes, damaged springs), brakes (worn discs, binding calipers), tyres (tread depth, damage) and emissions. The specific failure profile varies hugely by model. Our check shows you the breakdown for the exact model you are looking at, not just the national average.
How can I reduce the chance of MOT failure?
Regular maintenance is the single biggest factor. Most MOT failures are predictable: if your brake pads are worn, they will fail. If a bulb is out, it will fail. A pre-MOT check at an independent garage costs £20-40 and catches most issues before the test. For model-specific weaknesses, our known faults data tells you exactly what to watch for on your car.
Does MOT failure rate change with age?
Yes. Newer cars almost always pass (cars under 3 years old do not need an MOT at all). Failure rates increase with age as components wear. Most models see a noticeable increase in failure rates from around 6-8 years old, with another step up at 10-12 years. The models that maintain low failure rates even as they age are the ones with genuine build quality, not just initial reliability.
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MOT failure rates calculated from DVSA test data. Vehicle identification from DVLA. Known faults from GetCarWise database. Last updated September 2026.