Number plate lamp at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
3.9% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 356,647 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 15 to 19 years old (4.8%) and least common on vehicles 3 to 5 years old (1.5%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 64 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Citroen C5, the MG 5 and the Hyundai i800. On the Citroen C5, 21.6% of failed tests had it, against 2.7% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
No working lamp on the rear number plate: the only lamp, or all of them, missing or not working.
The MOT inspection manual lists “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
The manual also says: “Registration plate lamps must light up the rear registration plate.”
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citroen C52,835 failed tests | 21.6%611 tests | 8.0×all: 2.7% |
| 2 | MG 52,255 failed tests | 9.5%215 tests | 6.6×all: 1.4% |
| 3 | Hyundai i8001,820 failed tests | 14.3%261 tests | 5.3×all: 2.7% |
| 4 | Peugeot 200837,596 failed tests | 13.3%4,987 tests | 4.4×all: 3.0% |
| 5 | Citroen DS43,843 failed tests | 17.4%668 tests | 3.9×all: 4.5% |
| 6 | Citroen C4 Grand Picasso4,744 failed tests | 9.1%433 tests | 3.2×all: 2.9% |
| 7 | Citroen C4 Cactus6,142 failed tests | 8.5%520 tests | 3.2×all: 2.7% |
| 8 | Ford Tourneo Custom2,638 failed tests | 5.3%139 tests | 3.1×all: 1.7% |
| 9 | Toyota Prius33,608 failed tests | 11.8%3,962 tests | 3.0×all: 4.0% |
| 10 | Hyundai Ioniq6,700 failed tests | 6.1%407 tests | 2.9×all: 2.1% |
| 11 | Peugeot 20864,789 failed tests | 9.9%6,436 tests | 2.8×all: 3.5% |
| 12 | Nissan Micra86,117 failed tests | 11.2%9,635 tests | 2.7×all: 4.2% |
| 13 | Citroen C4 Picasso1,575 failed tests | 7.0%111 tests | 2.4×all: 2.9% |
| 14 | Citroen C450,643 failed tests | 8.6%4,356 tests | 2.2×all: 4.0% |
| 15 | Kia Niro12,889 failed tests | 3.9%504 tests | 2.1×all: 1.8% |
Only models where this defect is one of their 10 most common MOT failures, with at least 50 failed tests, have a figure. So a model that isn't listed can still have it, just less often than its other faults. Vans, pick-ups and taxis are left out, as in our rankings. × is the model's share divided by the share for all vehicles of the same age.
How common it is by car age
- Under 3 years, first used 2023 to 20243.2% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages349 failed tests
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20221.5% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages10,252 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20192.8% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages58,558 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20154.4% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages148,111 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20104.8% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages105,570 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20054.1% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages33,807 failed tests
All-vehicle figures cover vehicles first used from 1985 to 2024: 9,185,328 of the 9,193,164 failed initial tests in 2025.
How these figures are counted
These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. A defect found on more than one wheel, lamp or joint at the same test counts once. "Same age" is the defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the model's own failed tests in each year.
An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. These figures show where a defect was recorded, not why, and not what a repair costs. Figures: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. What the MOT checks: MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles, GOV.UK, read 1 Nov 2026.
How we choose and rank these defectsOther lights and electrics faults
- Position lamp8.7% of failed tests
- Stop lamp6.6% of failed tests
- Dipped headlamp4.9% of failed tests
- Headlamp beam image4.5% of failed tests
- Headlamp aim too low4.0% of failed tests
- Headlamp aim too high3.0% of failed tests
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.