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Electric cars have some of the lowest first-time MOT pass rates as

ended 09. February 2026

ELECTRIC vehicles feature prominently among the cars most likely to fail their first MOT

An analysis of vehicles undergoing their first mandatory MOT in 2025 found that five of the Top 10 makes and models with the highest first-time failure rates were EVs, according to research of DVSA data by vehicle history platform carVertical.

And the research 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.

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.

Other EVs featuring in the Top 10 include the BMW i4 and Citroën e-C4.

Matas Buzelis, motoring expert at vehicle history platform carVertical, said: “People often assume a first MOT is a formality because the vehicle is ‘only three years old’, but these results show that real-world wear can build up faster than many drivers expect. A three-year-old car can look spotless on the forecourt, yet still fail on tyres, brakes, suspension or visibility faults.

“It’s also notable how prominently electric models feature. 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.

“And ‘nearly new’ doesn’t always mean low risk. In a previous carVertical study, we found the mileage of two-year-old vehicles can be rolled back by an average of over 20,000 miles.

“For anyone buying used, the MOT history is a useful starting point, but it’s not the full picture. Check the wider story for mileage patterns, recorded damage and any outstanding finance - and don’t rely on a single option at the end of the search. Compare multiple cars earlier in the process, so you can spot the differences that matter and choose the best example. It pays to leave no car unchecked.”

Sohaib Ahmed, Founder & CEO at &facts, said as an EV owner he is not surprised by the data.

He continued: “As an EV owner, I can't say I'm entirely surprised. My experience getting my Tesla an MOT is that most testers still don't understand how to handle EVs. I've been turned away from stations because they didn't know how to test one. When I've found places that would take it, testers often become overly cautious, nitpicking because they're researching everything and following the manual to the letter rather than using their judgement. 

"On one occasion, a tester at a major chain just passed the car without testing everything properly because he was struggling to work it out. Contrast this with ICE cars, where testing has become second nature. They know where everything is and use their judgement instinctively. 

"With EVs, they're figuring things out on the fly, likely driving these higher failure rates. There's also the servicing angle. Teslas don't have scheduled servicing requirements. Across two Teslas and seven years of ownership, I've never had one serviced, there's nothing to service.”

4 responses from the Newspage community

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Michelle LawsonVerified
Director at Lawson Financial
The EV Green Gravy Train just keeps rolling along the track. I cannot think of one reason to own an EV- the expensive battery replacement makes the cars disposable- not that green is it? Cars catching fire, poor infrastructure, eradication of tax benefits and incentives... the list goes on.
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Kundan BhaduriVerified
Entrepreneur, Investor and Landlord at The Kushman Group
Remember these vehicles are excessively heavy, often hauling half a tonne of lithium-ion deadweight, which is obliterating suspension bushes and shredding tyres almost at the rate of Formula 1 cars.

There is also the issue with regenerative braking is creating a rust epidemic on brake discs that barely get used, leading to failures on vehicles that are barely three years old. No wonder being an early adopter has been a penalty, not a privilege for most EV owners in the last few years.
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Colette MasonVerified
AI Ethics Consultant at Clever Clogs AI
While plodders like the Honda Jazz (97% pass rate) or Toyota Yaris (95%) use decades of refinement and FSH to cruise through, EVs like the Tesla Model Y are hitting failure rates of 17% or higher.

Why is "simple EVs" a fallacy? Three reasons. The Weight Penalty: A Model Y is effectively a car carrying a literal ton of lead. This massive weight punishes bushings and control arms. "Axle suspension" performance is a Tesla tragedy. Shredded tyres: Instant torque is a death sentence for rubber. With 51% of EV failures linked to tyres, you're trading a 'cheaper' service for £800 on new boots per year. Regenerative braking: using motors means physical discs rarely get a workout. They seize or rust, leading to more "improper brake performance" fails at three years old than decade-old petrol cars.

For early adopters, EVs are an experiment. For everyone else, they’re a lacklustre beta. If you want predictable ownership, stick to the over-engineered maturity of the Japanese greats.
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Sohaib Ahmed0
Founder & CEO at &facts
As an EV owner, I can't say I'm entirely surprised. My experience getting my Tesla MOT'd is that most testers still don't understand how to handle EVs. I've been turned away from stations because they didn't know how to test one. When I've found places that would take it, testers often become overly cautious, nitpicking because they're researching everything and following the manual to the letter rather than using their judgement.

On one occasion, a tester at a major chain just passed the car without testing everything properly because he was struggling to work it out. Contrast this with ICE cars, where testing has become second nature. They know where everything is and use their judgement instinctively. With EVs, they're figuring things out on the fly, likely driving these higher failure rates.

There's also the servicing angle. Teslas don't have scheduled servicing requirements. Across two Teslas and seven years of ownership, I've never had one serviced; there's nothing to service!