If you've ever hesitated over switching to electric because you weren't sure how well the cars would hold up over time, there's some reassuring news. New research from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, based on more than 47 million MOT tests carried out between 2024 and 2026 (plus a much larger historical dataset going back further), shows that electric cars are now passing their MOTs more often than petrol cars, particularly once they've done some serious mileage.
At 20,000 to 40,000 miles, the two are roughly neck and neck, with EVs failing at a rate of 12% against 11.7% for petrol cars. But the story changes as the miles add up. By 60,000 miles, EV failure rates level off at around 16% and stay there, while petrol cars keep getting worse. In the 90,000 to 120,000 mile range, typically cars aged three to eight years, EVs failed at 16.5% compared with 22.1% for petrol. Beyond 120,000 miles the gap widens further, with EVs at 16% against 23.5% for petrol.
Perhaps the most striking figure is for older cars still on the road. Among 15-year-old vehicles that come back for their MOT, 94.6% of EVs pass compared with 88.1% of petrol cars.
Why would electric cars hold up better? The most likely explanation is mechanical simplicity. An electric motor has far fewer moving parts than a petrol engine, no exhaust system, no clutch, no timing belt, and typically less wear on the drivetrain overall. Fewer components generally means fewer things to go wrong by the time a car is being tested for roadworthiness.
That said, it isn't a one-sided picture. The same data shows EVs suffer roughly 1.8 times more tyre defects than petrol cars, which makes sense given their extra weight and the instant torque that comes with an electric motor. Some EVs also show a slightly higher rate of low-mileage brake defects early in life, often because regenerative braking means the physical brakes are used less and can be more prone to corrosion if a car sits around a lot. And it's worth remembering the MOT doesn't test battery health at all, so this data tells you nothing about how well a battery has aged, which is still something to check carefully on any used EV.
For anyone weighing up whether to make the switch, whether for personal use or as part of a company fleet, this is a genuinely useful data point. It suggests the drivetrain itself is proving dependable over time, even if tyres and brakes need a bit more attention than you might be used to with a petrol car.
If you're currently comparing your options for your next car, whether that's personal or business use, it's worth factoring reliability data like this in alongside running costs and lease terms. As always, we're happy to talk through the practicalities for your specific situation, no pressure either way.