Study shows ‘shocking’ number of vans failed MOT test last year

A recent study conducted by Select Van Leasing into the annual UK MOT vehicle check-up shows that more than a third of vans and pick-ups submitted for an MOT in the past year failed their initial test. Around 36 per cent of light commercial vehicles failed their initial test in a 12-month period between 2023 and 2024. That’s significantly higher than the 28 per cent initial failure rate recorded by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) for cars, passenger vehicles and vans as a whole between 2023 and 2024.  In the tyre segment, it is interesting to note that the MOT failure rate of vans due to tyres with tread below the legal limit at 17 per cent is below that suffered by UK vehicle MOT tests as a whole (circa 26 per cent), suggesting that UK van operators are generally better at checking and maintaining their rubber than the average motorist.