New industry analysis has highlighted a concerning trend for fleet operators, with Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) failing their first MOT at more than double the rate of cars.
Recent data shows that 2021-registered vans recorded a 25.9% MOT failure rate, compared with 12.6% for cars of the same age group.
The findings suggest an issue that many fleets will recognise – rising mileage, heavy usage and operational pressures are causing maintenance to slip, particularly on key safety components such as tyres and brakes.
The Real Issue Is Advisories Are Being Missed
A significant proportion of MOT failures, particularly tyre-related ones, had been highlighted as advisories in previous tests. This means operators were alerted early but did not act before defects became serious enough to result in an MOT failure.
This aligns with a broader challenge across fleet safety, where small issues can escalate quickly if they aren’t addressed.
We have already seen how minor misunderstandings around speed limits can lead to more serious consequences for drivers on the road and vehicle maintenance follows the same principle, with unattended problems growing such as brake defects and other issues.
High-mileage vans are especially vulnerable, and even a short delay in addressing wear can push components beyond the point of safety or legal compliance.
Why This Matters for Fleets
With over five million vans now in use across the UK, even small increases in non-compliance can have a noticeable impact on traffic flow and business continuity.
A single breakdown during peak traffic can slow deliveries and increase driver stress, mirroring the wider pressures already seen as road use continues to rise
For operators, the consequences include:
- Unplanned downtime
- Missed delivery windows
- Higher repair costs
- Increased exposure to avoidable risk
The operational impact is significant, but the safety implications are even more important. Many of the failures in the data were predictable and preventable.
Introducing a Six-Month Safety Cycle
Experts are now encouraging van operators to adopt a more proactive approach by scheduling thorough safety inspections every six months.
This creates an additional checkpoint between annual MOTs and helps catch developing faults before they compromise safety or compliance.
This approach works best when fleets also:
- Act immediately on advisories
- Track vehicle condition trends across the fleet
- Identify specific vehicles with repeated maintenance issues
- Use data tools to target support where it matters most
The logic is simple. The sooner an issue is identified and resolved, the less likely it is to become an MOT failure or cause a breakdown.
The 25% MOT failure rate among vans is not just a statistic, it is a warning that reactive maintenance is no longer enough. Minor advisories are becoming major faults because they aren’t being dealt with early enough.
A proactive, data-led maintenance culture is essential to keeping drivers safe and vehicles on the road.
The fleets that stay ahead of issues, rather than responding once they’ve escalated, will see the biggest benefits in compliance, reliability and cost control.
At Driving Monitor, our Compliance Monitor and Telematics Monitor tools are designed to help operators track vehicle condition, follow up on advisories and stay ahead of potential risks. If you’d like support in strengthening your maintenance and compliance processes, we’re here to help.
