TyreSafe found Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), or vans, are failing their first mandatory MOT test at double the rate of cars.
The finding was from a 2024 MOT data analysis, utilising proprietary metrics from fleet risk specialist Verifleet.
The study found that 2021-registered LCVs had a 25.9% failure rate, compared to 12.6% for non-LCVs in the same age group.
TyreSafe said the data points to systemic neglect, with brakes and tyres identified as the primary failure points.
Verifleet’s analysis indicates that a significant percentage of tyre failures on vehicles presented for subsequent MOTs – around 25% – were previously noted as advisories in earlier MOT checks.
Stuart Lovatt, chair of TyreSafe, said: “Verifleet’s data is a flashing amber light for the entire van sector. Our primary concern is that a quarter of tyre failures were previously noted as advisories.
“This means fleet managers had a documented warning and chose to gamble. As the only contact point between the vehicle and the road, a tyre advisory ignored on a loaded van is a critical safety gamble.
“Simple, regular checks save lives and prevent breakdowns.”
Darren Lindsey, CEO of the British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA), added: “While modern commercial tyres are built to high standards, their performance depends entirely on proper maintenance”.
Lindsey noted a 25% failure rate, with brakes and tyres as frequent issues, highlighting insufficient care by fleet operators rather than manufacturing faults.
He called for better education about tyre maintenance and its role in road safety to ensure tyres deliver their intended levels of safety and reliability.
Ian Andrew, CEO of the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), said: “Our members – the tyre distributors and fitters – are on the frontline, and they see these neglected advisories every day.
“The 25% failure rate is a direct reflection of businesses choosing to defer necessary vehicle maintenance rather than investing in timely, professional attention.
“This decision inevitably leads to unnecessary call-outs, unplanned downtime, and missed deliveries, directly impacting the bottom line.
“We urge all LCV operators to ensure their drivers are conducting their daily walk around checks.”
Alfred Graham, from the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association (ITMA), added: “From the imported tyre sector’s perspective, this high failure rate is unacceptable.
“We fully align with our colleagues that the 25% MOT failure figure points directly to a crucial lack of preventative maintenance across the UK’s van fleet, compounded by the proven failure to action advisories.”
With 5,102,180 vans now operating on UK roads – an increase of 1.8% year-on-year – TyreSafe said the volume of non-compliant LCVs poses a significant threat to national infrastructure and traffic flow.
Mark Cartwright, from National Highways, said: “A vehicle breakdown on the Strategic Road Network is not just a commercial inconvenience; it’s a major cause of congestion and poses a significant risk to road users.
“When one in four vans is found to be non-compliant, it translates directly into avoidable safety incidents and hours of disruption for the 5 million-plus vehicles that are essential to the UK economy.
“Our ‘Driving for Better Business’ programme urges operators to heed this data and prioritise vehicle roadworthiness.”
TyreSafe, in partnership with the BTMA, ITMA, National Highways, and Verifleet, issued a call to action for all UK fleet managers and business owners operating LCVs.
The call to action encourages fleets to adopt a six-monthly safety check as standard that focus on high-risk components like tyres and brakes.
It also called for a zero-tolerance approach to neglected advisories and to establish a documented policy to address and rectify all MOT and service failures immediately.
The final call to action was for fleet managers and business owners to go ‘data-led’, using risk-management tools to identify and flag vehicles that exhibit patterns of neglect or high-risk use.
Richard Stowe, director at Verifleet, said: “The 25% MOT failure rate is a direct consequence of ignoring minor advisories until they become dangerous, costly failures.
“We have the data to pinpoint these risks, and now the industry must commit to a data-led, proactive maintenance culture to protect their drivers and the public by implementing these three pillars.”
