Car MOT Fail Checker and MOT Fail Statistics Report
We’ve analysed more than 815 million MOT records to build the MOT fail checker tool. Use it to see if your car - or one you’re thinking of buying - is likely to fail its MOT.
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Results
Select a few details about your car to get started.
How do I use the MOT fail checker?
Simply enter your car make, model and fuel type, and our tool will reveal:
The MOT failure rate for that make and model
The average age that car model is likely to fail its first MOT test
Most common reasons for failure for that car model
The results are based on MoneySuperMarket analysis of DVSA records of MOTs carried out in Great Britain between 2005 (and Northern Ireland since 2017) and September 2025.
What is an MOT and how does it affect my car insurance?
An MOT, or Ministry of Transport test, is an annual inspection that ensures your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards. It's a legal requirement for UK-registered vehicles more than three-years-old.
Driving without an up-to-date MOT certification is not only illegal, it can invalidate your car insurance.
The MOT checks road safety features such as brakes, suspension and tyres, as well as whether your vehicle’s exhaust meets legal pollution limits.
Which cars have the highest MOT fail rate?
The Peugeot 207 (both the diesel and petrol type) is the model most likely to fail an MOT, according to our analysis, with failure rates of 35% and 33% for the diesel and petrol types respectively.
The Peugeot 206 completes the top three. Both Volkswagen and Citroen have two entries in the list of cars most likely to fail their MOT, with the Ford Fiesta, Renault Megane and Fiat Punto completing the top ten.
Cars with the highest MOT fail rate*
Rank | Car Model | Fuel Type | Failure Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peugeot 207 | Diesel | 34.71% |
2 | Peugeot 207 | Petrol | 33.23% |
3 | Peugeot 206 | Petrol | 33.20% |
4 | Citroen DS3 | Diesel | 33.17% |
5 | Fiat Punto | Petrol | 31.62% |
6 | Renault Megane | Petrol | 31.55% |
7 | Volkswagen Polo | Diesel | 30.45% |
8 | Citroen DS3 | Petrol | 30.40% |
9 | Ford Fiesta | Diesel | 30.23% |
10 | Volkswagen Beetle | Petrol | 29.95% |
*Based on car models that have had more than 100,000 MOT tests since 2005
Why do Peugeot 207s fail their MOT?
The most common reasons for Peugeot 207s to fail their MOT, according to MoneySuperMarket analysis, are:
The nearside front tyre tread depth being below the 1.6mm requirement (2.07% of Peugeot 206s fail on this fault)
The parking brake efficiency being below requirements (2.12% fail rate)
Exhaust emission reading revealing that the car’s engine is either burning too much fuel, or too much air
The most common issues by fuel type are:
Diesel: fractured or broken front coil springs and broken sidelights
Petrol: loose exhaust pipe or a broken check engine light
At what age do Peugeot 207s fail their MOT?
The average age for the Peugeot 207s to fail their first MOT test is five years old, according to more than 501,000 MOT records.
Which cars are most likely to pass their MOT?
The Porsche 911 has the lowest MOT failure rate, followed by the Volkswagen T-Roc and the Toyota RAV4, according to our analysis. Toyota also appears in fifth spot with the Yaris, behind the Audi Q3.
Cars with the lowest MOT fail rate**
Rank | Car Model | Fuel Type | Failure Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Porsche 911 | Petrol | 4.43% |
2 | Volkswagen T-Roc | Petrol | 6.63% |
3 | Toyota RAV4 | Hybrid | 6.86% |
4 | Audi Q3 | Petrol | 6.88% |
5 | Toyota Yaris | Hybrid | 7.26% |
6 | Audi Q2 | Petrol | 7.49% |
7 | Ford Puma | Petrol | 7.59% |
8 | Mercedes-Benz GLA | Diesel | 7.84% |
9 | Mercedes-Benz GLA | Petrol | 7.93% |
10 | Ford Kuga | Petrol | 8.14% |
** Based on car models that have each had more 100,000 MOT tests since 2005
What are the top 25 most common MOT fail reasons?
DVSA data shows that cars most often fail their MOT because:
The handbrake isn’t strong enough to safely hold a car securely
The tyres tread depth is below the 1.6mm requirement
The windscreen washer doesn’t provide sufficient washer liquid
Handbrake failure is a common MOT issue in most car models. Owners often miss handbrake issues, especially when parking on flat surfaces or if they leave the car in gear when parked, and the issue then only becomes apparent during an MOT test.
UK motorists drive on the left, and data shows the nearside (front-left) tyre tends to wear more quickly. This is especially true for front-wheel-drive vehicles, which are more common among family and commuter cars. It’s important to check the wear of front tyres as they are the second and third most common reason for failing an MOT in the UK.
Other very frequent fail reasons include: the windscreen wipers not properly clearing a windscreen; the Lambda reading in the exhaust emissions test showing either a fuel and air imbalance; or an unacceptable amount of carbon monoxide content when the engine is subjected to high revs.
Top 25 most common MOT fail reasons (all car models) in the UK from 2005-2025
Rank | Fail Reason | Number of Fails |
|---|---|---|
1 | Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) | 9,135,783 |
2 | Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) | 7,214,442 |
3 | Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) | 6,531,581 |
4 | Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) | 3,968,099 |
5 | Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3) | 3,193,624 |
6 | Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3) | 3,176,434 |
7 | Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2) | 3,008,026 |
8 | Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3) | 2,893,067 |
9 | Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b) | 2,551,112 |
10 | Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2) | 2,549,201 |
11 | Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i)) | 2,188,404 |
12 | Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1) | 2,172,585 |
13 | Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) | 2,120,720 |
14 | Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) | 1,424,187 |
15 | Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) | 1,258,976 |
16 | Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b) | 1,202,989 |
17 | Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) | 1,098,691 |
18 | Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h)) | 926,555 |
19 | Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) | 543,041 |
20 | Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i)) | 144,466 |
21 | Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i)) | 111,330 |
22 | Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i)) | 111,104 |
23 | Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4.1.3(ii)) | 93,523 |
24 | Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4.1.3(ii)) | 70,386 |
25 | Rear reflector on motorcycle missing (1.4.1) | 56,441 |
What are the top MOT faults by fuel type?
Diesel
The most common reasons that diesel cars fail their MOT are around the parking brake (or handbrake) not meeting the minimum braking force required to stop the car’s wheels from turning.
Diesel models are also more prone to wearing down their rear brake pads to an illegal limit, which can damage the brake discs and prevent the car from being stopped effectively.
One of the top ten reasons a diesel car may fail its MOT, which isn’t as common in electric or petrol cars, is under code (8.2.2.2.(g)), which is where the engine MIL (better known as the check engine light) doesn’t come on at all, or stays on too long.
Electric
For electric vehicles, the DVSA MOT records show that tyre issues dominate the top fail reasons; whether it’s the tyre tread being below the 1.6mm requirement, or the tyres having a cut or gash in them that is deep enough to pose a potential blowout risk.
The reasons for tyres causing MOT problems more for electric cars than petrol or diesel could be down to the fact that electric motors deliver torque instantly, and more aggressively than petrol or diesel engines.
EVs are also significantly heavier than their petrol and diesel counterparts, because of their large lithium-ion batteries, and this heavier weight could be increasing tyre wear.
Petrol
Cars with a petrol engine have a mixed bag of frequent MOT fail reasons. Like diesel cars, parking brake efficiency is one for the top faults, as well as tyre tread depth.
However, petrol cars are more likely than diesel or electric cars to fail for having a problem with their windscreen washer not providing enough washer liquid, or for having illegal levels of carbon monoxide content in their exhaust emissions.
What is the most likely age for cars to fail their MOT?
The average age for cars to fail their MOT varies by fuel type. Based on car models which have been manufactured since before 2020, and that have data for at least 5,000 MOT tests; petrol cars are most likely to go the longest stretch of time before failing their first MOT.
Fuel Type | Average Age at First MOT Fail |
|---|---|
Electric | 4 years and 8 months |
Hybrid Electric | 4 years and 10 months |
Diesel | 6 years and 5 months |
Other | 6 years and 5 months |
Petrol | 8 years and 11 months |
When is the most popular time of year for MOTs?
Tuesdays in October may be the busiest time of year to book an MOT, according to DVSA data. The most popular times for an MOT test in 2024 were:
Most popular months: October (9.7%), March (9.6%) and September (9.2%)
Least popular month: December (6.2%)
Most popular day of the week: Tuesday (19.5%)
What are the most common MOT faults in popular car models?
We analysed more than 209 million MOT failure results to uncover why the five best-selling car brands from 2024 (based on SMMT data) are most likely to fail their MOT, and at what age they are most likely to fail.
For each brand we have listed the three most popular fault MOT codes e.g. (3.7.B.7), followed by a short explanation of what the fault codes mean.
VOLKSWAGEN: (3.7.B.7), (5.2.3 (e)) and (8.2.3)
The most frequently recorded MOT fail for a Volkswagen car is the parking brake not meeting efficiency requirements, i.e. the handbrake is deemed unable to safely stop the car wheels from moving.
The next most common fault in Volkswagens is the front tyres being worn down to a tread of under 1.6mm, which is likely a result of many models (particularly Golf and Polo) being front-wheel drive, meaning the front tyres will bear the brunt of the car’s powerful acceleration and braking forces.
Many Volkswagens fail their MOT because the windscreen washer doesn’t provide enough liquid – this could be down to a number of factors, such as forgetting to refill it, or limescale buildup in hard water areas, rather than a manufacturing concern. On average, a Volkswagen fails its first MOT at eight years and five months.
BMW: (5.2.3 (e)), (5.2.3 (d) (i)) and (3.7.B.7)
Most BMWs are rear-wheel drive and so it stands to reason, along with their hard acceleration and 50:50 weight balance putting more workload on the back of the car, that is the most common reasons BMW cars fail MOT tests is down to the rear tyre treads either being below the 1.6mm requirement, or the rear tyres having a cut deep enough that it poses a blowout risk.
BMWs often fail MOTs because their parking brakes don’t meet efficiency standards. The average age of a BMW to fail its first MOT test is six years and eight months.
AUDI: (5.2.3 (e)), (5.2.3 (d) (i)) and (4.1.E.1)
Even with Audi’s precision engineering, their cars can still fail MOTs. The issues most frequently flagged in Audi cars are all associated with tyre wear, with the front tyres being the most common culprits for having worn down tread.
Most Audis have front-wheel drive, as well as more weight over the front axle which can accelerate tyre wear. As well as the tread depth eroding, the other top MOT fail reason for Audis are cuts in the tyre that could pose a blowout threat.
Many Audi models boast larger alloy wheels with low-profile tyres, and the lack of cushioning between the rim and the road could be making Audi tyres more vulnerable to damage from kerbs and potholes.
KIA: (5.2.3 (e)), (3.7.B.7) and (3.4 (b) (ii))
Kias may have a reputation for reliability, but MOT data shows the most common reason for failure is the nearside front tyre tread being worn down below the 1.6mm requirements, followed by the handbrake not performing efficiently enough to hold the car securely.
Most Kia cars are front wheel drive and can see heavy daily use as an affordable family car. Another frequent issue in Kia cars is the windscreen wipers not cleaning the windscreen properly – usually a simple fix but easily missed by owners.
FORD: (3.7.B.7), 5.2.3 (e)) and (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
Handbrake faults often cause Ford MOT test failures, especially in older models with mechanical cable handbrakes. With most Ford cars being front wheel drive, it’s unsurprising to see that front tyre wear is the second most common MOT fault in Fords.
The third most frequent MOT fail for Ford cars is the wearing of the front tyre brake pads, which could be due to frequent stop-start driving during heavy commutes.
How did we work out MOT failure rates?
MOT data was gathered from the DVSA MOT API. The data covers 815,527,256 MOT tests for vehicles registered in Great Britain since 2005 and Northern Ireland since 2017. For MOT fails, 209,454,317 failure results were analysed, to provide this dataset. We simplified the brand names and models in the dataset to group model subvariants and aligned with models with policies used in quotes from MoneySuperMarket.
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Author
Sarah Tooze
Car & Van Insurance Expert
Sarah Tooze has been a motoring journalist for more than 15 years, specialising in company cars and vans, and has won a number of awards during her career, including the Newspress ‘Automotive...
Reviewer
Beth Leslie
Senior Insurance Content Editor
Beth is an experienced writer and editor who specialises in financial and economic content. She is currently the Senior Insurance Content Editor for MoneySuperMarket. Beth is passionate about making...
