A six-week study by HiQ Tyres & Autocare suggests nearly one in five vehicles aged five years or younger failed their MOT at the first attempt. The snapshot, drawn from a representative sample of MOT tests across HiQ locations nationwide, challenges the idea that newer cars are inherently more roadworthy. HiQ says many failures were avoidable with routine checks, highlighting tyres, lamps and wipers as recurring issues.
“At HiQ, we want to keep motorists safe driving on the road. Our findings suggest a worrying level of complacency when it comes to the maintenance of newer vehicles, with many drivers mistakenly assuming that age alone guarantees roadworthiness. Sadly, that is not always the case. An MOT failure often points to there being critical safety issues with vehicles and can result in costly repairs and the need for a re-test.” - Craig Sprigmore, Retail Director UK & Ireland, HiQ Tyres & Autocare.
The results indicate behaviour, not age alone, is driving a chunk of first-time MOT failures. Routine checks on tyre tread/pressure, lights and wipers regularly prevent avoidable fails. UK-wide datasets from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency also show these items are persistent contributors to failure, reinforcing the message that simple maintenance reduces risk.
“In reality, many of the most common reasons for MOT failure, such as worn tyres, faulty lamps or problems with wipers and washers, can be avoided entirely with routine maintenance checks.” — Craig Sprigmore, HiQ Tyres & Autocare.
The figures cited are from a HiQ six-week sample across its locations and are not a national DVSA pass-rate average.
Tagged with: MOT failure rates, MOT pass rates, tyre safety, tyre tread depth, vehicle maintenance, wiper faults, headlamp checks, HiQ Tyres & Autocare, DVSA data, UK road safety
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
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