The MOT at 12 to 14 years old

At a glance

Pass rate at this age

Same age, compared fairly

Models that pass most at 12 to 14 years old

Every car here is the same age, so no adjustment is needed. Limited to models with at least 5,000 tests in this band, which leaves out low-volume exotics whose owners barely drive them.

Same age, compared fairly

Models that pass least at 12 to 14 years old

276 models have at least 1,000 tests at this age; 174 clear the 5,000 floor used here.

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a car 12 to 14 years old?

63.7%, across 5,216,478 DVSA tests of cars first registered 2011–2013. The national rate across all ages is 72.3%. That is 8.2 points below the 9 to 11 years old band, which is roughly the size of the step at every age.

Which car is most reliable at 12 to 14 years old?

Among models with at least 5,000 tests at this age, the Porsche Cayenne passes most often at 82.8%, and the Vauxhall Vivaro least at 47.4%. Because every car compared is the same age, this is the fairest ordering on the site — though a car's own mileage and history still matter more than its model.

Which MOT is this?

A car 12 to 14 years old is on its tenth to twelfth MOT. The first MOT falls when the car turns three, and each is annual after that, so the age band maps directly onto how many times the car has been through the test.

Should I buy a car that is 12 to 14 years old?

At this age the MOT history separates good cars from bad ones far better than the model does. Look for how many advisories have been carried year to year without repair, and whether mileage has been consistent. The band's ranking tells you what to expect from the model; the car's own record tells you what you are actually buying.