How did this model perform at its very first MOT - when outside variables are at their lowest? One of the cleaner signals in the BIB report.
Why the first MOT is different
Every new car in the UK must have its first MOT at three years old. Before that test, the car has had one or two owners at most, typically low mileage, and has been serviced within the manufacturer's warranty schedule.
Owner neglect - missed services, deferred repairs, hard driving - hasn't had time to accumulate meaningfully. So a high failure rate at this stage is a meaningful signal, even if it can't be attributed to a single cause.
Stripping out the noise
Most reliability data is contaminated by owner behaviour. A well-maintained car of a poor model can pass every test. A neglected car of a great model can fail repeatedly. It makes it genuinely hard to separate the car from the context.
The 3-Year Test cuts through much of this. At three years old, the playing field is as level as real-world data gets. First-MOT failure rates across thousands of identical vehicles are one of the cleaner signals available.
Above the national first-test average of 83%. A strong first-MOT pass rate is a positive indicator - it can reflect good model-level build quality, conscientious early ownership, or both. Not a guarantee of long-term reliability.
Below the national first-test average. A lower first-MOT pass rate can point to model-level characteristics, or reflect how early owners treated these cars. Worth investigating - use this alongside the full MOT history and Reliability Score.
What it looks like in your report
App screengrab
First-MOT pass rate for this make, model, and year compared against the national benchmark - at the point in a car's life where outside variables are at their lowest.
What the 3-Year Test doesn't tell you
A strong first-test result doesn't mean the model is reliable at 80,000 miles. Some cars perform well when young and deteriorate sharply with age. The 3-Year Test reflects early-life performance - not how the model holds up over the long run.
Use it alongside the Reliability Score (which covers the full model lifecycle) and the Best Year to Buy for the most complete picture.
See the 3-Year Test result for any car
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