First-time MOT pass rate
The UK first-time mot pass rate is the share of MOT tests passed at the first attempt, with no repairs carried out at the test station. For 2023 to 2024 it stood at 71.42%, measured across 32,693,703 MOT tests on Classes 3 & 4 (cars, vans and passenger vehicles with up to 12 seats).
Quick answer: The UK first-time mot pass rate is 71.42% (2023 to 2024) — implying about 23,349,843 passes and a 28.58% fail rate.
Pass rate
71.42%
Fail rate
28.58%
Implied passes
23,349,843
Tests measured
32,693,703
What the first-time mot pass rate means
The first-time mot pass rate is the share of MOT tests passed at the first attempt, with no repairs carried out at the test station. At 71.42% for 2023 to 2024, roughly 23,349,843 of the 32,693,703 MOTs on Classes 3 & 4 (cars, vans and passenger vehicles with up to 12 seats) passed under this measure, leaving a 28.58% fail rate. Every test is marked to the same national MOT standard, so this rate reflects the real-world condition of the vehicle fleet rather than any variation in how strictly the test is applied.
First-time MOT pass rate vs mot pass rate after rectification
The DVSA publishes two pass-rate measures for 2023 to 2024. They differ by 5.63 percentage points.
| Measure | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| First-time MOT pass rate (this page) | 71.42% | 28.58% |
| MOT pass rate after rectification | 77.05% | 22.95% |
If your car fails: the cost (£)
A failed MOT must be repaired before the vehicle can legally be driven (other than to a booked repair or MOT appointment). MOT fees are capped by the DVSA at £54.85 for a Class 4 car, and a partial re-test is free within 10 working days if the vehicle stays at the same test station.
Fee figure: DVSA statutory maximum MOT fees — separate from the pass-rate data.
Frequently asked questions about the first-time mot pass rate
What is the first-time mot pass rate in the UK?
The first-time mot pass rate was 71.42% for 2023 to 2024, based on 32,693,703 MOT tests across Classes 3 & 4 (cars, vans and passenger vehicles with up to 12 seats) (DVSA table dvsa-mot-01). This measure is the share of MOT tests passed at the first attempt, with no repairs carried out at the test station.
How many MOTs does that represent?
A 71.42% first-time mot pass rate across 32,693,703 tests implies roughly 23,349,843 passes in 2023 to 2024. The remaining 28.58% did not pass under this measure.
How does it compare to the mot pass rate after rectification?
The mot pass rate after rectification was 77.05% — 5.63 percentage points higher. That measure is the share of MOT tests that ended in a pass once minor faults were rectified at the test station during the same visit.
Does this MOT pass rate vary by car make or age?
The DVSA does not publish the first-time mot pass rate broken down by make or by vehicle age. The official data set (dvsa-mot-01) reports results by class of vehicle only, so this figure is the national rate for Classes 3 & 4 (cars, vans and passenger vehicles with up to 12 seats).
What happens — and what does it cost — if a car fails its MOT?
A failed MOT means the vehicle does not meet the minimum legal standard and must be repaired before it can be driven (except to a pre-booked repair or test appointment). MOT fees are capped by the DVSA at £54.85 for a Class 4 car, and a partial re-test is free within 10 working days if the vehicle stays at the same test station. (Fee figure: DVSA statutory maximum, separate from the pass-rate data.)
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), table dvsa-mot-01 — MOT testing data for Great Britain. Financial year 2023 to 2024, Classes 3 & 4 (cars, vans and passenger vehicles with up to 12 seats). Verified 2026-06-27. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.