Electric vehicles have higher MOT failure rates than equivalently aged hybrid and petrol vehicles, new research by BookMyGarage.com indicates.

Electric vehicles have higher MOT failure rates than equivalently aged petrol and hybrid vehicles, according to BookMyGarage.com

Its analysis of DVSA data, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, showed electric vehicles have an MOT failure rate of 11.4% for three-year-old vehicles, which rises to 21.8% for six-year-old vehicles.

Petrol vehicles have a failure rate of 10.7% after three years, meaning they’re 6% more likely to pass than electric vehicles of the same age.

And while an 11.2% rate for three-year-old hybrid vehicles means they’re marginally less likely to fail, six-year-old hybrids are some 29% less likely to fluff their MOT than EVs.

However, diesel vehicles have the highest MOT failure rate. The study by the MOT and servicing price comparison site found 15.1% of three-year-old vehicles failed. But six-year-old diesels shared a similar failure rate to electric vehicles at 21.4%.

Initial MOT failure rates of Class 4 vehicles aged three to six years old: 

Karen Rotberg, co-founder of BookMyGarage.com, said that while EVs are generally cheaper for maintenance, this doesn’t mean electric vehicles are immune to safety defects.

“In fact, because electric vehicles are generally much heavier than vehicles with internal combustion engines, wear on some components – such as tyres – can be greater.”

Tyres are responsible for 22% of all electric vehicle MOT failures, compared to just 12% for all fuel types.

And with typically longer service intervals than for many petrol or diesel vehicles, it’s likely that EVs are making fewer visits to workshops, which means fewer safety inspections are being carried out to check for potential defects.

“This data highlights the importance of regular servicing and safety checks on electric vehicles, even though their service schedules are simpler, to ensure any defects are found before they become dangerous,” Rotberg continued.

Recent analysis by Fleet Assist found that fully electric vehicles are around 22% cheaper to service compared to equivalent internal combustion-engined (ICE) cars and vans, thanks to reduced labour times and fewer moving parts.

Its research of the 850,000 fleet cars and vans that use its 5,200-strong franchised and independent garage network looked at the average transaction value of a BEV service and found that the much of the lower cost is due to reduced labour times, which are currently 33% shorter for BEVs than ICE cars.

It also uncovered that the parts component of a BEV job is typically 28% cheaper than an ICE car due to them having fewer working parts, with brake wear far lower. When considering parts prices – which have risen by around 10% in the past 12 months – the BEV/ICE SMR cost gap widens further.

Fast-rocketing demand for electric vehicle SMR

BookMyGarage.com’s Freedom of Information (FOI) request to DVSA also revealed the rapidly increasing number of electric vehicles being MOT-tested each year. In 2021, nearly 76,000 electric vehicles were tested, a 36% rise on 2020 and 68% increase on 2019.

And with 337,000 electric vehicles registered in the last three years alone, this figure is expected to shoot up further over the coming years and garages will need to be prepared to take on significantly more MOT, servicing and repair work on EVs.

Rotberg added: “Our EV servicing badge helps customers find and book with garages that are equipped to service EVs. Consumers should remember that even if they’re only booking their EV in for a MOT test, it’s possible that repairs may be required as a result of a failed test, and this is where more specialised electric vehicle knowledge and training might be needed.”