Top 10 reasons drivers fail their MOT tests unveiled amid surge in demand

MOT: Quick checks to do before having your test

Experts have unveiled the top 10 reasons why motorists fail their MOT tests amid fears of a garage surge this autumn.

Insurance specialists at One Sure Insurance made the revelation after analysing data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The research revealed that problems arising with lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment were the most popular reasons cars didn’t make the grade.

These issues accounted for more than a quarter (26.1 percent) of total motoring defects and 11.9 percent of test failures.

Suspension issues were the second most popular reason with 19 percent of total vehicle defects and nine percent of failures.

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Car brakes accounted for 15.9 percent of defects and were noticed in 6.9 percent of all tests while tyres were responsible for 6.4 percent of failures.

Rounding out the top five were visibility issues with 7.9 percent of defects and 4.9 percent of test failures coming from this category.

Motorists have been urged to be especially vigilant as temperatures drop with more road users likely to miss the MOT mark.

Data shows that almost a third (29 percent) of cars do not pass their winter MOT test with around 2.5 issues detected per vehicle.

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Body, chassis, and structure problems were seen in 6.6 percent of motoring exams while noise, emissions and leaks were picked up 5.7 percent of the time.

Steering problems were next with 3.1 percent of all MOT failures down to this simple complaint.

Seat belts and identification of the vehicle finished up the top 10 with the defect noted in 1.8 percent and 0.7 percent of all tests respectively.

The warning comes amid concerns there will be a surge in demand for MOTs this autumn.

It is expected almost 10 million vehicles will need an MOT test between September, October and November but this should subside by December.

This was partly caused by decisions made at the start of the coronavirus pandemic almost four years ago.

Motorists at the time were issued a six-month extension on an MOT test which meant many vehicles which used to expire in the spring are now due in the autumn.

This period is usually busy due to the launch of the latest car number plates every September which drives up demand for new models.

Top 10 MOT failures 

1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

2. Suspension

3. Brakes

4. Tyres

5. Visibility

6. Body, chassis and structure

7. Noise, emissions and leaks

8. Steering

9. Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems

10. Identification of the vehicle

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