High-Mileage Used EVs Fail MOTs Less Than Petrol Cars
High-mileage used electric cars fail MOT tests less often than petrol cars of the same age, according to analysis of 47.4 million test records published 22 September 2026. The Guardian The work was carried out by consultancy New AutoMotive for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).
For cars with 90,000 to 120,000 miles, 16.5% of electric vehicles failed, compared with 22.1% for petrol cars, or about 25% less likely to fail. Beyond 120,000 miles, 16% of EVs failed compared with 23.5% of petrol cars. The gap is small at low mileage. EVs move ahead on MOT performance at mileages above 60,000 miles. Automotive World
The MOT, the UK's yearly road safety check, examines brakes, tyres, suspension, steering and lights. It does not measure battery health, loss of range over time, or charging performance. The results describe roadworthiness under the legal test, not the full condition of the traction battery, the large battery that drives the car, or the electric powertrain.
The data also show where EVs do worse. EVs recorded nearly twice as many tyre defects as petrol cars. Older, low-mileage electric cars showed more defects in friction brakes, the standard brakes that grip to slow the wheels. Researchers linked that pattern to corrosion from brakes being used less often.
Other data give context on lifespan and fleet turnover. Battery electric vehicles cover more miles in a lifetime than petrol cars, averaging 124,000 miles. Nature In a separate study, baseline estimates show a petrol vehicle lasts 1.9 more years than a diesel vehicle. A model described in 2026 was trained on MOT histories of 1.14 million petrol and diesel vehicles.
New-car sales in Europe have shifted toward electric power. Fully electric car sales in the European Union overtook petrol sales for the first time in December, at 22.6% of registered cars against 22.5% for petrol. Reuters EV registrations rose 13% in July across 16 European markets. Britain's new-car market recorded its best September in five years.
Trade in second-hand vehicles is lightly regulated in much of the world. As of 2020, 100 countries receiving used vehicles had no vehicle emissions standards, while only 11 countries receiving used vehicles had 'very good' emissions regulations.
The broader context here is the shift from first-owner adoption to second-owner economics. Leasing and rental fleets depend on maintenance frequency, downtime and resale values. Lower MOT failure rates at 90,000 miles and above help one part of that calculation for EVs. They do not settle it.
Looking at what this means for buyers, operators and regulators, the exceptions and gaps carry weight. Tyre defects in a heavier vehicle fleet affect replacement intervals and operating costs. Brake corrosion from low use points to a different maintenance routine, not one without maintenance. The absence of battery health from the MOT leaves the central commercial question for a used EV outside the test. For policymakers handling cross-border flows of used cars into markets with few or no emissions standards, roadworthiness alone will not decide environmental outcomes.
