MOT cost .

Dvsa

Dvsa

902 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Dvsas pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 20.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — a confident result.

Pass

96.6%

Pass-after-fix

3.3%

Fail

0.1%

Avg miles

131,923

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

Dvsa: a strong MOT record by UK norms

Across 902 MOT tests, the Dvsa returns 96.6% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a defective wiper blade. Windscreen damage and a defective headlamp lens round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 131,923, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    Wiper blade defective

    22 occurrences · 2.4% of tests

  2. 02

    Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

    17 occurrences · 1.9% of tests

  3. 03

    Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

    10 occurrences · 1.1% of tests

  4. 04

    A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

    10 occurrences · 1.1% of tests

  5. 05

    Tyre obviously under inflated

    8 occurrences · 0.9% of tests

  6. 06

    Steering box leaking oil

    5 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  7. 07

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    5 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  8. 08

    A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated

    5 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  9. 09

    Excessive oil discharge from a compressor or brake valve

    3 occurrences · 0.3% of tests

  10. 10

    An obstruction within the driver's field of view that materially affects his view in front or to the sides outside the swept area of windscreen

    3 occurrences · 0.3% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£38£160

If every one of this Dvsa's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Buying or keeping a Dvsa?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a Dvsa and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.