UK Cars With the Best MOT Pass Rates from 2024 Data: Complete DVSA Rankings
Which car makes have the best MOT pass rates in the UK? Based on 2024 DVSA records, pass rates among the 20 highest-ranked makes range from 94.30% down to 74.14% – and the UK-wide pass rate across all 34,233,620 MOT tests in 2024 was 71.65%. In this guide you'll find the complete 2024 DVSA rankings for the top 20 makes, covering 12,939,312 tests, a separate ranking for cars aged 5-10 years, and a clear explanation of what an MOT pass rate does and does not tell you before you choose your next car.
The Top 20 UK Manufacturers Ranked by MOT Pass Rate
Top 20 UK car makes by 2024 MOT pass rate
Class 4 + Class 7 MOTs · makes with at least 10,000 tests · sorted by pass rate
The ranking covers makes with at least 10,000 MOT tests in 2024. Across the 12,939,312 tests on these 20 makes, the combined pass rate was 76.81% (Source: DVSA MOT data 2024) – above the UK-wide figure of 71.65%, as you would expect from a list of the highest-ranked makes.
Ferrari took the top position with a 94.30% pass rate across 13,985 tests, followed by Aston Martin at 91.91% from 22,572 tests and Bentley at 91.07% from 22,578 tests. These makes have far smaller test volumes than the mass-market brands, which is worth bearing in mind when comparing them.
Among makes with larger volumes, Porsche achieved 86.75% across 178,482 tests, while Lexus recorded 83.47% from 166,959 tests and Tesla 83.43% from 87,075 tests. Among the makes in the top 20 with more than 1.5 million tests, BMW led with 78.81% from 1,875,076 tests, followed by Audi at 78.21% from 1,729,817 tests.
At the lower end of the top 20, Toyota (74.49%), Volvo (74.29%), KIA (74.16%) and Seat (74.14%) recorded pass rates below 75% – still above the UK-wide 71.65%. Mercedes-Benz achieved 75.93% across 1,943,216 tests, the largest test volume in the list.
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What MOT Pass Rates Actually Tell You About Cars
Before you choose a car on these rankings alone, it helps to be clear about what the figure measures. The pass rate here is simply the share of MOT tests on each make that ended in a pass in 2024.
The MOT is a check of specific safety and emissions items on the day of the test. It is not a measure of reliability: it does not tell you how a car's engine, gearbox or electronics will hold up, or what a car will cost to run.
Just as importantly, a pass rate cannot tell you why one make passes more often than another. MOT data records the outcome of each test, but it cannot separate the car itself from its age, its mileage, how it has been maintained or how it is used. So while a higher pass rate is a real difference in test outcomes, it is not evidence on its own that one make is better built than another.
Best MOT Pass Rate Cars for 5-10 Year Old Vehicles
Top 10 UK car makes by pass rate — 5-10 years old
Class 4 MOTs in 2024 · makes with at least 10,000 tests in this age band · sorted by pass rate
If you're shopping for a used car, comparing cars of a similar age is fairer than comparing whole fleets, because each make's fleet has a different mix of ages. This ranking covers only cars aged 5-10 years at their 2024 MOT.
- Porsche: 90.66% across 65,653 tests
- Lexus: 88.67% across 70,445 tests
- Honda: 85.65% across 300,571 tests
- Mini: 84.64% across 372,053 tests
- BMW: 83.53% across 913,763 tests
- Jaguar: 83.34% across 173,245 tests
- Audi: 82.80% across 853,394 tests
- Land Rover: 82.55% across 414,418 tests
- Subaru: 82.43% across 18,691 tests
- Toyota: 81.86% across 669,751 tests
(Source: DVSA MOT data 2024.) Some makes look quite different once you compare like with like. Mini, for example, records 84.64% for its 5-10-year-old cars, against 76.58% for its fleet as a whole. Honda does not appear in the all-ages top 20 at all, yet ranks third in this age group at 85.65% across 300,571 tests.
How to Use MOT Pass Rate Data When Buying Your Next Car
MOT pass rates are most useful as one input alongside everything else you would normally weigh up: price, running costs, insurance, size and how you'll use the car.
Start with the cars that suit your needs and budget, then use the rankings to see how those makes performed at their MOT in 2024 – ideally the 5-10-year ranking if you're buying used, since it compares cars of a similar age.
For any individual car, its own history matters more than the brand average. A well-looked-after car from a make with a lower pass rate can be a better buy than a neglected one from a make at the top of the table. Always check the MOT history of the specific vehicle you're considering using the DVSA MOT history checker, and have it looked over by a garage you trust before you buy.
For MOT failure data by make, model and problem across every year from 2005 to 2024, our car problems pages let you look up the specific car you're interested in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which car brand has the best MOT pass rate in the UK?
Ferrari recorded the highest MOT pass rate in 2024 among makes with at least 10,000 tests, at 94.30% across 13,985 tests (Source: DVSA MOT data 2024). Among makes with more than 100,000 tests, Porsche led with 86.75% from 178,482 tests, followed by Lexus at 83.47% from 166,959 tests.
What is the average MOT pass rate in the UK?
Across all 34,233,620 UK MOT tests in 2024, the pass rate was 71.65% (Source: DVSA MOT data 2024). The 20 makes in our ranking recorded a combined 76.81% across their 12,939,312 tests.
Do electric cars have better MOT pass rates?
Tesla achieved an 83.43% pass rate across 87,075 tests in 2024 – above the UK-wide 71.65%, and similar to Lexus (83.47%). That is one make's result, so it is not enough to draw conclusions about electric cars as a group.
Should I only buy cars with high MOT pass rates?
Not necessarily. A pass rate describes how often a make passed its MOT; it does not measure reliability, running costs or whether a car suits you. Use it alongside the car's own MOT history, its price and running costs, and an inspection before you buy.
Conclusion
The 2024 DVSA data shows clear differences between makes: Ferrari, Aston Martin and Bentley top the all-ages ranking, and Porsche, Lexus and Honda lead among 5-10-year-old cars, with every make in the top 20 above the UK-wide pass rate of 71.65%. Remember what the figure is – a record of test outcomes, not a verdict on reliability or on why one make passes more often than another. Use it as one tool alongside the specific car's history and a proper inspection. When your car's MOT or servicing is due, you can find trusted garages near you through our directory.
