MOT failure rates in Great Britain: DVSA data by vehicle class

MOT failure rate by vehicle class

The failure-rate-by-class tables set out two measures. The initial failure rate counts vehicles that fail at the first attempt, while the final failure rate counts those still failing after any defect is rectified at the station during the same visit. For class 3 and 4 vehicles, covering cars, vans and passenger vehicles up to 12 seats, the initial failure rate was 27.51% in 2025 to 2026, from 7,429,798 initial failures across 33,310,534 tests. The final rate was 22.30%, a gap of 5.21 percentage points, reflecting 1,733,209 vehicles that passed after an on-site fix. The quarterly table adds the latest position: an initial failure rate of 26.75% in Quarter 1, April to June 2026 to 2027, with 7.25% of tests failing with at least one dangerous item, covering 566,187 vehicles.

MOT results by vehicle class, 2025 to 2026

The latest published quarter, Quarter 1: April to June 2026 to 2027: motorcycles at 12.40%, cars and vans at 26.75%, class 7 goods vehicles at 34.01%.

MOT results by vehicle class, Quarter 1: April to June 2026 to 2027

Ten-year trend for cars and vans

Over ten years the initial failure rate fell 7.89 percentage points, from 35.40% in 2016 to 2017 to 27.51% in 2025 to 2026. Test volumes moved in the opposite direction, rising 16.1% from 28,684,053 to 33,310,534 over the same period. The comparison carries a caveat: defect classification changed in May 2018, when dangerous, major and minor categories replaced pass or fail items. Series either side of that change are therefore not strictly comparable. The fall in the headline rate should be read alongside that break in the series rather than as a single continuous improvement.

Class 3 and 4 vehicles, ten most recent financial years

Top MOT failure reasons for cars

In Quarter 1, April to June 2026 to 2027, the three most frequent defect categories were lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 9.98% of tests, suspension at 8.21% and tyres at 6.55%. The percentages are shares of tests, so a category can appear often without being severe. Tyres account for 62.69% of all dangerous defects and brakes for 27.15%, meaning the two categories that dominate dangerous defects are not the two that dominate volume. Lamps and electrical faults are the most frequent category overall but rarely dangerous, at 1.24% of dangerous defects. Reading the two measures together separates how often a defect appears from how serious it is when it does.

Class 3 and 4 initial failures by defect category, Quarter 1: April to June 2026 to 2027

Class 3 and 4 initial failures by defect category, 2025 to 2026

What the figures mean for drivers

The gap between the initial and final failure rates shows how much of the failure total is resolved at the station on the day. For class 3 and 4 vehicles the initial rate was 27.51% and the final rate 22.30%, a difference of 5.21 percentage points, with 1,733,209 vehicles passing after an on-site fix during the same visit. The initial figure therefore measures first-attempt outcomes, while the final figure measures outcomes after rectification, and the two describe different points in the same test visit.

Several of the most frequent failure categories can be inspected by a driver without tools before the test. Lamps, tyres, wipers, screenwash and warning lights fall into that group, and lamps and tyres are two of the three most frequent failure categories. That overlap matters for interpretation: the categories that drive volume are partly visible before a test, whereas the categories that dominate dangerous defects, tyres at 62.69% and brakes at 27.15%, are not equally open to a roadside check. Lamps and electrical faults are the most frequent category but account for only 1.24% of dangerous defects.

Class 7 goods vehicles of 3,000 to 3,500 kg recorded a 34.00% initial failure rate, 6.49 percentage points above cars and the highest of any class, a pattern attributed to working vehicles with higher mileage and loads. When DVSA publishes the next quarter, the classification change of May 2018 remains relevant, since series either side are not strictly comparable. The latest quarter, April to June 2026 to 2027, showed a 26.75% initial failure rate and 7.25% of tests failing with at least one dangerous item, covering 566,187 vehicles, which provides the baseline for the next release.

Motorcycles and class 7 vans

Motorcycles, classes 1 and 2, recorded a 13.40% initial failure rate across 1,019,745 tests in 2025 to 2026, well below the 27.51% for cars and vans. Class 7 goods vehicles of 3,000 to 3,500 kg recorded 34.00%, which is 6.49 percentage points above cars and the highest of any class. These are working vehicles with higher mileage and loads, which is the stated likely reason for the higher failure rate. The spread shows that the headline car and van figure does not describe every class on the network.

Motorcycles: initial failures by defect category, 2025 to 2026

Class 7 vans: initial failures by defect category, 2025 to 2026

Test stations and testers

The MOT network in 2025 to 2026 comprised 23,092 private stations, 222 other stations and 66,925 nominated testers. In 2013 to 2014 the figures were 22,062 private stations and 56,872 nominated testers, so both the station count and the tester count have grown. The data covers Great Britain only; Northern Ireland MOT data is published separately by the DVA. The source is the DVSA statistical data set on GOV.UK, and a new quarter is published roughly three months after quarter end. FindMyMOT, a Kael Tripton Ltd directory, lists MOT test stations by postcode.

MOT test stations and testers

Methodology

All figures are taken directly from the DVSA statistical data set MOT testing data for Great Britain on GOV.UK (files 01, 02, 03, 05 and 06), read as published with no modelling or estimation. Financial years run April to March. Dangerous-item figures are quoted from the quarterly rows only. This page is rebuilt when DVSA publishes a new quarter; the last-reviewed date above shows the most recent rebuild. Great Britain covers England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland MOT data is published separately by the DVA.

Source: MOT testing data for Great Britain, DVSA on GOV.UK. Test stations by postcode: FindMyMOT, a Kael Tripton Ltd directory.

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Frequently asked questions

What percentage of cars fail their MOT?

27.51% of class 3 and 4 vehicles failed at the first attempt in 2025 to 2026, according to DVSA. After faults fixed at the test station are counted, the final failure rate was 22.30%.

What is the most common reason for MOT failure?

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment was the most common defect category in Quarter 1: April to June 2026 to 2027, recorded in 9.98% of all car and van tests, followed by suspension at 8.21%.

What is the difference between initial and final failure rate?

The initial rate counts every test that failed on first inspection. The final rate excludes vehicles that passed after a fault was rectified at the same test station during the same visit.

Do motorcycles fail the MOT less often than cars?

Yes. Motorcycles recorded 13.40% initial failures in 2025 to 2026 against 27.51% for cars and vans and 34.00% for class 7 vans.

How many MOT test stations are there?

DVSA counted 23,092 private and 222 other MOT test stations in 2025 to 2026, with 66,925 nominated testers.