Cheap runners: cars most and least likely to pass an MOT test

New data reveals which cars are most likely to pass an MOT and those most likely to fail.

Taking your car for a MOT is a stressful experience, no matter what car you have or how long you’ve had it.

But the truth is that your experience can differ sharply depending on precisely what you drive.

After all, while some cars have a fantastic record at passing the test, others have a patchier record.

Now leasing comparison site LeaseLoco has dug into data obtained from the DVSA through a Freedom of Information request to pick out which cars perform best in the tests, and which have room for improvement.

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The best and worst car models

First, let’s take a look at the individual car models with the best pass record in 2023.

Importantly the breakdown focuses only on those cars where there were at least 1,000 MOTs carried out across the year.

Indeed with Porsche, Audi and Jaguar also making the list there’s apparently some benefit to opting for a premium manufacturer.

Now let’s take a look at those with the worst pass records:

Ford is the only manufacturer to have a model in both the top and bottom list.

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The best and worst manufacturers for MOT passes

However, those are only isolated examples. What about when you take a manufacturer’s entire line and see how they perform consistently across MOT tests?

These are the five names with the best and worst records according to LeaseLoco’s analysis, and it once again highlights the fact that you do get a little more reliability with a premium name.

Improving your chances of passing

Unfortunately, this research doesn’t tell us precisely why these motors have come up short in the MOT tests.

But there are certain common reasons for failures that you can act on before heading off to the test to boost your chances of a pass.

For example, an awful lot of cars each year fail their MOT because the windscreen wiper doesn’t clear the screen properly.

All the testers are looking for is that the wipers can clear water quickly without leaving any untouched areas or smears, which will damage your visibility.

This can easily be avoided by testing your wipers properly at home, well in advance of the test. And getting substandard wipers replaced will work out at a fraction of the cost of having multiple MOTs.

Another very common reason for failure is your headline amp being out of alignment, and again it’s something you can check at home.

Line your car up with the beams on against a wall or garage door and mark where the centre of the beams is. Then reverse back a few metres and check the centre of the beam remains in the same place and that they are level.

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