Make overview
Smart MOT pass rates by model
Data updated
Quick answer
Smart cars pass 74.3% of MOT tests across 9,455 recorded tests, against a national average of 72.3%. We hold data for 5 Smart models. The item recorded most often on a failed Smart is spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened.
- Tests analysed
- 9,455
- Unadjusted pass rate
- 74.3%
- Models with data
- 5
Unadjusted, not ranked
Other Smart models with MOT data
These models have at least 500 recorded tests, but their tested examples do not span enough ages and mileages to rank fairly. Their failure and advisory patterns are still drawn from real tests.
| Model | Unadjusted pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Fortwo | 68.1% | 4,370 |
| Smart EQ Forfour | 85.3% | 1,756 |
| Smart EQ Fortwo | 91.8% | 1,569 |
| Smart Roadster | 68.8% | 1,140 |
| Smart Forfour | 53.5% | 620 |
Across the range
What Smart cars fail on most
Share of failed Smart tests recording each item, summed across every model above.
- 1.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened15.7%
- 2.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen12.4%
- 3.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake10.1%
- 4.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning10.1%
- 5.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements9.5%
- 6.A tyre seriously damaged8.0%
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate for Smart?
- Across 9,455 recorded MOT tests, 74.3% of Smart tests ended in a pass, against a national average of 72.3%. A make-level figure blends very different cars, so the individual model pages are the more useful comparison.
- What do Smart cars most often fail their MOT on?
- The most commonly recorded failure item across Smart tests is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", appearing in 15.7% of failed tests. One failed test can list several items, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
- Why do some Smart models not have a pass rate ranking?
- A model is only ranked when its tested examples cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages for a fair comparison. 0 of the 5 Smart models here qualify. For the rest we publish the unadjusted rate and the failure patterns, but not a rank, because comparing unadjusted rates mostly sorts cars by how new they are.
How to read these figures
Why the adjusted rate is the fair one
An unadjusted pass rate is strongly driven by the age and mileage of the cars being tested, not by how well they were built. A model bought mainly as a lightly used second car will look better than an identical car sold to high-mileage drivers. Adjusting for age and mileage compares each model against cars that have lived a similar life.
For a specific car, its own record beats any model average — check that vehicle’s MOT history and read what testers actually recorded against it.
Check any vehicle's MOT history
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