More Than 566,000 Cars and Vans Fail MOTs With Dangerous Defects in Just Three Months

More than 566,000 cars, vans and passenger vehicles failed their MOT with at least one dangerous defect in just three months, newly released DVSA figures reveal.

The latest data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency shows 7,808,594 Class 3 and 4 vehicles underwent initial MOT tests between April and June 2026.

Of those, 566,187 – 7.25% – were found to have at least one dangerous defect.

That equates to approximately one in every 14 vehicles arriving for its MOT with a defect considered sufficiently serious to represent a direct and immediate risk to road safety or the environment.

The figures also reveal that more than a quarter of vehicles failed their initial MOT overall, highlighting the scale of repair and maintenance work identified through Britain’s MOT testing system.

More than one in four vehicles initially fails its MOT

Of the almost 7.81 million Class 3 and 4 vehicles tested between April and June, 26.75% failed their initial MOT.

DVSA recorded 1,696,269 final failures, while 392,349 vehicles passed following rectification at the MOT Testing Station.

But it is the number of vehicles arriving with dangerous defects that is arguably the most concerning figure.

A total of 566,187 initial tests identified at least one dangerous item.

The figures cover Class 3 and 4 vehicles, including cars, light vans and passenger vehicles with up to 12 seats.

What is a dangerous MOT defect?

MOT defects are categorised as minor, major or dangerous.

DVSA defines a dangerous defect as one presenting a direct and immediate risk to road safety or having a serious impact on the environment.

A vehicle with either a major or dangerous defect fails its MOT.

Where a tester considers a vehicle to be dangerous to drive on the road, DVSA guidance requires the tester to warn the person presenting the vehicle and clearly explain the dangerous defects identified.

A dangerous MOT failure is therefore very different from a vehicle failing because of a relatively straightforward defect.

It indicates a problem serious enough that motorists should not simply regard it as something to deal with at a convenient time.

Tyres account for almost two-thirds of dangerous defects

The breakdown of DVSA’s latest figures reveals a particularly striking problem with tyres.

For Class 3 and 4 vehicles tested between April and June 2026, tyres accounted for 62.69% of dangerous defects recorded.

Dangerous tyre defects were identified in the equivalent of 4.64% of all initial tests.

Brakes were the second largest category, accounting for 27.15% of dangerous defects, with dangerous brake defects recorded in 2.27% of tests.

Suspension accounted for a further 4.98% of dangerous defects.

By comparison, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment accounted for 1.24% and body, chassis and structural problems accounted for 1.67%.

The figures suggest tyres and brakes alone account for almost 90% of dangerous defects recorded in the latest Class 3 and 4 MOT data.

Dangerous tyre defects should be particularly concerning

Tyres are one of the most safety-critical components on any vehicle and are also something motorists can inspect between MOTs.

The MOT Inspection Manual categorises several serious tyre problems as dangerous.

For example, tyre tread depth below the required standard can result in a dangerous defect, as can a seriously damaged or misaligned tyre valve where there is a risk of sudden deflation.

For cars and light vans, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around its entire circumference.

However, motorists should not treat an annual MOT as a substitute for routinely checking their tyres.

An MOT certificate doesn’t guarantee a car stays safe for 12 months

One of the misconceptions surrounding the MOT is that passing the test means a vehicle will remain safe until its next MOT.

It doesn’t.

The MOT confirms that a vehicle met the required road safety and environmental standards at the time it was tested.

The vehicle keeper remains responsible for ensuring the vehicle is roadworthy throughout the year.

GOV.UK specifically warns that a vehicle can be unsafe even when it has a current MOT certificate. Driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition can result in a fine of up to £2,500, three penalty points and a driving ban.

That distinction becomes particularly important when more than half a million vehicles are arriving at MOT Testing Stations with dangerous defects in a three-month period.

MOT garages remain an important part of road safety

The figures also underline the role MOT testers and independent garages play in Britain’s road safety system.

An MOT isn’t simply an administrative requirement needed to obtain a certificate.

Every dangerous defect discovered represents a potentially unsafe vehicle that has been identified through the testing process.

For garages, the latest figures also demonstrate the value of encouraging customers to deal with defects and advisories before they become more serious.

A tyre approaching the legal limit, deteriorating brakes or worn suspension component may not necessarily result in an immediate dangerous failure, but deterioration can continue long before the vehicle’s next annual MOT.

This provides garages with an opportunity to use MOT advisories constructively – reminding customers about outstanding maintenance rather than allowing the next MOT anniversary to become the first time the vehicle is inspected again.

Motorists should not wait for an MOT to discover dangerous defects

The scale of dangerous failures suggests many motorists are still relying too heavily on the annual MOT to identify the condition of their vehicle.

Basic checks of tyres, lights, wipers and fluid levels can be carried out regularly by motorists, while servicing and professional inspections can identify issues that are much harder to detect without workshop equipment.

Brakes and suspension are obvious examples.

The latest figures show dangerous brake defects alone accounted for more than a quarter of dangerous MOT defects recorded between April and June.

For garages, encouraging preventative maintenance rather than simply repairing vehicles after an MOT failure can therefore have genuine road-safety benefits.

More than 566,000 dangerous failures in three months

The headline figure is difficult to ignore.

Between April and June 2026, 566,187 Class 3 and 4 vehicles arrived for an MOT and were found to have at least one dangerous defect.

That represents 7.25% of initial tests – approximately one vehicle in every 14.

Tyres were overwhelmingly the largest dangerous-defect category, accounting for almost two-thirds of dangerous defects recorded, followed by brakes.

While the overall initial failure rate of 26.75% demonstrates the continued importance of the MOT test, the dangerous-defect figures raise a wider issue.

Vehicles need to remain roadworthy for the entire year – not simply on the day they are presented for their MOT.

For garages and MOT Testing Stations, the latest DVSA statistics provide another powerful reason to encourage customers to take advisories seriously, maintain their vehicles throughout the year and have safety-critical components checked before problems become dangerous.