More than a third of vans and pick-ups submitted for an MOT in the past year failed their initial test, according to new research.
A study by Select Van Leasing, part of the Select group which is a Leasing Broker Federation member, revealed a failure rate among three-year old LCVs being submitted for their first MoT of around 36%.
The rate, revealed by a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the DVSA, is significantly higher than the 28% recorded by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for the complete car and van market between 2023 and 2024.
According to the data of the nearly 2.5 million class 4 vans (which include panel vans, pick-ups and vans derived from cars) presented for an MoT in a 12-month period, more than 890,000 failed the initial test.
The prime cause, accounting for 47% of failures, were issues associated with ‘lamps, reflectors or electrical equipment’. Luton vans are most often failed in this category, with a 66% failure rate, with box vans far behind at 57%.
Around 34% of initial MoT failures were linked to problems with the van’s suspension and 28% due to brake issues. Problems with the vehicle’s ‘body, chassis or structure’ accounted for 18% of initial failures, with tyre issues perhaps surprisingly one of the lowest figures at 17%.
Select Van Leasing managing director Graham Conway described the data as laying bare the importance of regular vehicle maintenance in order to improve standards.
“It’s eye-opening to see much higher rates of initial MoT failures for vans compared with typical passenger vehicles and our stats highlight the need for improved standards,” Conway said.
“By their very nature, light-commercial vehicles need to work hard for the businesses they serve and must stand up to the rigours of constant use. With all that in mind, it’s vital vans are either maintained to high standards or replaced when age catches up with them.”
Conway added that with heavy payloads placing extra stress on van components while increasing stopping distances, it is worrying to see high numbers of van MOT initial failures linked to brakes or suspension defects.
“I’d urge all business owners or van drivers to pay close attention to potential problems as soon as they arise – such as poor handling or the vehicle pulling to one side when the brakes are deployed – rather than waiting for the issues to be highlighted during the annual MOT check.”
