MG HS First MOT Pass Rate Statistics: What the 2024 DVSA Data Shows
If you want the short version, the MG HS looks strong at its first MOT. Using the DVSA’s anonymised 2024 MOT results data, 38 out of 40 MG HS vehicles first used in 2021 passed their earliest normal 2024 MOT, which gives the model an estimated 95.0% first-MOT pass rate.
That is comfortably better than the wider UK class 4 car average for the same first-MOT-age cohort. Across all class 4 vehicles first used in 2021, the equivalent pass rate works out at 90.5% in the same 2024 dataset.
The important caveat is sample size. This MG HS result is based on a relatively small number of vehicles reaching first-MOT age in the public 2024 data, so it is useful evidence, not the final word on long-term reliability.
Quick answer
- Estimated MG HS first MOT pass rate: 95.0%
- Vehicles counted: 40 usable first-MOT-age MG HS records in the 2024 DVSA dataset
- Passes: 38
- Fails: 2
- Comparison point: all class 4 vehicles first used in 2021 came in at 90.5%
One additional MG HS record in the 2024 data was marked as an abandoned test and is excluded from the pass-rate calculation, which is consistent with the DVSA’s published approach for initial test statistics.
How I worked that out
The DVSA does not publish a neat official table called “MG HS first MOT pass rate”. Instead, the public download is an anonymised vehicle-level dataset.
To estimate a true first-MOT result as honestly as possible, I filtered the 2024 DVSA anonymised MOT data for:
- MG HS vehicles
- class 4 passenger-car tests
- normal tests only, not retests
- vehicles first used in 2021, because those are the cars that would typically reach their first MOT in 2024
- the earliest 2024 normal test for each vehicle
That leaves a practical first-MOT-age cohort rather than mixing in older cars on second, third or later tests.
What the MG HS figure means in plain English
A 95.0% estimated first-MOT pass rate suggests that most MG HS examples reaching their first test are getting through without failing the first attempt.
That is encouraging for anyone looking at a used MG HS that is around three to five years old, because the first MOT is often the point where early build quality issues, tyre wear, brake wear, lighting faults and suspension niggles start to show up in a more consistent way.
It does not mean every MG HS is trouble-free. It does mean that, in this 2024 first-MOT-age cohort, the model performed better than the wider car parc average.
Is the MG HS above or below average at its first MOT?
Based on this 2024 DVSA-derived analysis, it is above average.
- MG HS estimated first-MOT pass rate: 95.0%
- All class 4 vehicles first used in 2021: 90.5%
That is a difference of about 4.5 percentage points in the MG HS’s favour.
For buyers, that is the useful takeaway. The MG HS is not showing up here as a car with a worrying first-test pattern.
Why the sample size matters
This is where it is worth being careful rather than breathless.
The MG HS result here is based on 40 usable first-MOT-age vehicles in the public 2024 dataset after applying the filters above. That is enough to be interesting, but not enough to pretend we are looking at the final verdict on the model forever.
If you are comparing it with extremely common UK models, those usually sit on much larger sample sizes, which means their pass-rate picture tends to be steadier.
So the fair summary is:
- the MG HS looks strong on first-MOT performance in the available 2024 data
- the result is promising rather than absolute
- buyers should still inspect the individual car properly
What should MG HS owners still check before an MOT?
Even with a healthy-looking first-pass rate, a used MG HS can still fail for routine items. Before booking a test, I would pay particular attention to:
1. Tyres
Check tread depth across the full width, not just the middle. Uneven wear can point to alignment issues, suspension wear or simply neglected tyre pressures.
2. Brakes
If the car has been standing around, doing only short trips or has a lip building up on the discs, it is worth having the brakes looked at before test day.
3. Lights and electrical basics
A surprising number of MOT fails are still straightforward things such as bulbs, indicators, number plate lamps and warning lights.
4. Wipers and washers
A split blade or an empty washer bottle is an avoidable fail.
5. Suspension knocks or play
If the car clonks over speed bumps or feels unsettled, do not assume it will “probably be fine”. MOT testers will pick up obvious wear.
Does this make the MG HS a safe used buy?
It is a positive sign, yes, but it is only one sign.
A strong first-MOT result is useful because it hints that the model is not routinely arriving at its first inspection with obvious early-life problems. That said, used-car buying should never rely on one statistic alone.
I would still want to see:
- a clean service record
- evidence of decent tyre maintenance
- no dashboard warning lights
- smooth braking
- no suspicious suspension noises
- a sensible history check
If you are looking at a higher-mileage example, condition matters more than the headline pass rate.
When does an MG HS need its first MOT in the UK?
Like most modern cars, an MG HS needs its first MOT three years after it was first registered. If you are buying one that is close to that age, it is worth checking the MOT history rather than assuming all is well.
If you want the background on when a vehicle does and does not need an MOT, Motoring Mojo also has a guide to why some older cars are MOT exempt.
Verdict
The best evidence available from the DVSA’s 2024 anonymised results suggests the MG HS has a strong first-MOT record, with an estimated 95.0% pass rate for cars first used in 2021 and tested for the first time in 2024.
That puts it ahead of the wider 90.5% pass rate for the broader first-MOT-age class 4 car cohort in the same data.
I would treat that as a reassuring sign, not a guarantee. If you are buying an MG HS, the model-level number is encouraging, but the condition of the exact car in front of you still matters more than anything else.
