MOT guides
MOT pass rates by car age
A car's age is one of the strongest predictors of whether it passes its MOT. Here is the failure rate by age band across the UK fleet.
MOT failure rate by age band
| Car age | MOT failure rate |
|---|---|
| 0-3 years | 8.4% |
| 3-6 years | 10.6% |
| 6-10 years | 16.6% |
| 10-15 years | 23.5% |
| 15+ years | 25.9% |
Based on 42,216,721 UK MOT tests (calendar year 2023). The pattern is consistent: every additional age band raises the odds of a failure, driven by cumulative wear to suspension, brakes, corrosion and emissions components.
What this means if you are buying
An older car is not necessarily a bad buy, but it carries a higher baseline failure risk — so the MOT history and a careful inspection matter more. Our per-model reports compare a specific car against same-age, same-mileage peers rather than the fleet as a whole, which is fairer than a raw age comparison.
Check any UK reg free for its full MOT history plus a statistical next-MOT failure-risk estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. In our dataset, failure rates rise steadily with age — roughly 8.4% for the newest band up to 25.9% for the oldest.
Failure risk increases at every age band, but the steepest rises tend to appear once a car passes about six to ten years old, as wear components reach the end of their life.