Light commercial vehicles are failing their first MOT at more than double the rate of cars, according to new data from TyreSafe and fleet risk specialist Verifleet — raising concerns about maintenance discipline across van fleets at a time when more than 5.1 million LCVs are operating on UK roads.
Verifleet’s analysis shows 2021-registered vans recorded a 25.9% first-time MOT failure rate, compared with 12.6% for cars of the same age. Brakes and tyres were the most common causes, with TyreSafe calling the trend “systemic neglect” rather than isolated faults. Crucially, around a quarter of tyre-related failures had been listed as advisories at previous MOTs, confirming that ignored warnings are a major contributor.
BTMA CEO Darren Lindsey said the findings highlight “insufficient care by fleet operators”, while Ian Andrew of the NTDA warned that deferring maintenance leads directly to “unplanned downtime and missed deliveries”.
With breakdowns on strategic routes causing congestion and safety risks, National Highways’ Mark Cartwright urged operators to prioritise roadworthiness: “One in four vans being non-compliant translates into avoidable safety incidents.”
TyreSafe and its partners now recommend six-monthly inspections focusing on tyres and brakes, zero-tolerance for neglected advisories, and a data-led risk approach to identifying high-risk vehicles.
For operators looking to reduce advisory-driven failures, a number of data-led maintenance tools can help close the gap. Platforms such as FleetCheck, Geotab, Samsara and Verizon Connect offer automated service reminders, fault-code detection, predictive maintenance schedules and traffic-light compliance dashboards — the kind of real-time oversight designed to prevent the missed advisories highlighted in this MOT analysis.
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