Verdict
The Volkswagen ID.3 passes its MOT first time on 89.5% of tests, 2.3 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (87.2%). That puts it ahead of 77% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
The MOT doesn’t test an electric car’s battery or motor, so ask for a battery health report too, and electric cars have no exhaust emissions test, which flatters the comparison a little.
Better than average on lights & electrics, visibility, brakes.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 89.5% | Beats 77% | B |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Tyre damage & cracking 1.5× typical
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Anti-roll bar links 7.5× typical
A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix). - Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left. - Windscreen washers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Shock absorbers
Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre damage & cracking | 5.4% | 3.6% | 1.5× |
| Tyre tread depth | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.0× |
| Headlight aim | 1.3% | 1.5% | 0.9× |
| Windscreen washers | 0.5% | 0.9% | 0.6× |
| Windscreen wipers | 0.5% | 2.1% | 0.2× |
| Rear fog light | 0.5% | 0.2% | 2.6× |
| Anti-roll bar links | 0.4% | 0.1% | 7.5× |
| Shock absorbers | 0.3% | 0.2% | 1.1× |
| Airbag warning light | 0.2% | 0.1% | 2.1× |
| Brake performance | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1.0× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A tyre seriously damaged | 30.9 |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | 24.6 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 14.6 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 13.2 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 6.1 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 5.5 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 4.9 |
| An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 4.4 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2023 Volkswagen ID.31 engine88.8% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 88.8% | Beats 53% | C |
2022 Volkswagen ID.31 engine89.1% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 89.1% | Beats 69% | B |
2021 Volkswagen ID.31 engine89.5% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 89.5% | Beats 79% | B |
2020 Volkswagen ID.31 engine89.9% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 89.9% | Beats 82% | A |
FAQ
What is the Volkswagen ID.3 MOT pass rate?
89.5% of MOT tests on the Volkswagen ID.3 were passed first time, based on 61,959 tests between 2023 and 2026 of cars first registered 2020–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 87.2% of the time.
Is the Volkswagen ID.3 reliable?
On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 77% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen ID.3?
The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, tyre damage & cracking comes up 1.5× as often.