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MoT Files 2019: Millennial classics coming of age

Published 28 February 2019

Research by Honest John Classics into Government MoT data shows that, once cars reach the age of 18 years of age, owners start cherishing them and putting money back in, with the consumer motoring site compiling a top 10 list of the 21st century cars that are soon to become collectable.

The point when the MoT pass rates stops falling and starts rising is what we like to call “the year of the banger”. According to the latest data, that year is 2001. This is the year that has the worst MoT pass rate (50.4%). After that, the data proves that cars start to find enthusiastic owners willing to spend time and money keeping their pride and joy on the road.

“This shows us that 18 is roughly the age where a car stops becoming a banger and starts to become cherished,” said Honest John Classics Editor, Keith Moody. “The insurance industry will sometimes use a cut-off date of 25 years, but we much prefer to look at the MoT data.

Already, there are some turn-of-the-century cars that are pulling in a cult following, the most obvious of which is the original BMW-built MINI, which turns 18 this year.

But it’s not just the MINI that is well on the road to becoming a cult car, with other models from the early 2000s already en route to being cherished classics. The last Rover - the 75 - in particular has a strong following, while other cars that have thriving owners’ clubs include 2000s MGs, the Jaguar XJ and some of the most popular Japanese models such as the Toyota MR2 and Mazda MX-5.

The revelation coincides with the publication of the latest HonestJohn.co.uk MoT Files, which means motorists are now able to spot cars’ common failures by make, model, year of registration and postcode based on empirical data.

The MoT Files is the most detailed analysis of Government MoT data in the UK, covering every post code in England, Scotland and Wales. The data is obtained from the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) through the Government’s OpenData scheme and based on millions of MoT tests that take place up and down the country by qualified technicians.

The research also reveals the makes and models of cars that are most likely to pass the MoT, along with the areas in the UK with the best and worst MoT pass rates.