2018 MG 3 MOT pass rate: 80.9% (7,558 tests)
Is the 2018 3 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 83.2% -4.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 81.7% -4.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 78.0% -6.8 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2018 3
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 811 | 28.8% |
| 2 | Tyres | 711 | 25.3% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 338 | 12.0% |
| 4 | Suspension | 306 | 10.9% |
| 5 | Visibility | 271 | 9.6% |
| 6 | Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 141 | 5.0% |
All 3 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4,621 | 74.3% | -1.5 pts | 54,219 |
| 2015 | 6,926 | 75.3% | -3.4 pts | 48,752 |
| 2016 | 9,100 | 78.1% | -3.2 pts | 44,653 |
| 2017 | 8,461 | 77.8% | -6.2 pts | 39,608 |
| 2018 (this page) | 7,558 | 80.9% | -5.4 pts | 32,985 |
| 2019 | 10,763 | 85.4% | -3.0 pts | 25,870 |
| 2020 | 5,040 | 87.7% | -2.2 pts | 20,646 |
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FAQs
Is a 2018 MG 3 reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 80.9% of their MOT tests (7,558 tests, 2023–2025), -5.4 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 32,985 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 3?
The median tested example shows 32,985 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.