New analysis of vehicles undergoing their first mandatory MOT in 2025 has revealed the cars with the highest first-time failure rates.
Based on data obtained via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), only makes and models with at least 100 fails were considered for this research, and vans and pick-up trucks were not included.
Top of the list was the Mercedes-Benz EQC, an electric SUV, with a first-time MOT fail rate of 17.2%. Just over 4,000 checked in for an MOT last year, and of those 717 failed.
Both electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) cars feature in the top 20, with the Ford Tourneo Custom just behind the Mercedes-Benz EQC, with a first-time MOT fail rate of 16.6%. Just over 3,100 had an MOT last year, and of those 520 failed.
The research, conducted by vehicle history platform CarVertical, also revealed that two of the UK’s most popular electric cars, the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, had some of the lowest first-time pass rates.
Both recorded first-time MOT failure rates of just under 15%, based on nearly 20,000 Model Y tests and more than 13,000 Model 3 tests carried out last year.
Other electric models featured include the BMW i4 and Citroën e-C4, alongside non-electric vehicles such as the Ford Tourneo Custom, Vauxhall Insignia and Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Car - Make/Model
Number of MOTs (2025)
Number of passes
Number of fails
Fail rate (%)
Mercedes-Benz EQC (electric)
4,179
3,462
717
17.2%
Ford Tourneo Custom
3,141
2,621
520
16.6%
Vauxhall Insignia
693
584
109
15.7%
Ford Tourneo Connect
1,756
1,481
275
15.7%
Land Rover Discovery Sport
3,704
3,144
560
15.1%
BMW I4 (electric)
3,830
3,259
571
14.9%
Tesla Model Y (electric)
19,282
16,423
2,859
14.8%
BMW X5
6,250
5,328
922
14.8%
Tesla Model 3 (electric)
13,159
11,235
1,924
14.6%
Citroen E-C4 (electric)
2,680
2,301
379
14.4%
BMW 8 Series
919
792
127
13.8%
Mercedes-Benz EQB (electric)
2,199
1,899
300
13.6%
Citroen C4
4,244
3,673
571
13.5%
Dacia Jogger
1,940
1,685
255
13.1%
Hyundai Bayon
2,967
2,580
397
13.0%
BMW 3 Series
9,486
8,262
1,224
12.9%
BMW X6
808
705
103
12.8%
BMW 5 Series
5,379
4,707
672
12.5%
Vauxhall Astra
3,207
2,807
400
12.5%
Mercedes-Benz E Class
3,035
2,661
374
12.3%
Only makes/models with at least 100 fails in 2025 were considered. Source: CarVertical
Matas Buzelis, motoring expert at CarVertical, said: “As EVs become more popular, the number of them reaching their first MOT will increase. We will see this trend reflected in the data.
“They’re assessed against the same inspection standards as any petrol or diesel car, but have fewer moving parts, so it will be interesting to see how they hold up in the long-term.”
