Light Commercial Vehicles are failing their first MOT at twice the rate of cars, according to new analysis from TyreSafe using Verifleet data.
Figures show that 2021-registered vans recorded a 25.9% failure rate, compared with 12.6% for non-LCVs of the same age, and TyreSafe says the findings point to systemic neglect rather than random faults, with brakes and tyres responsible for a significant proportion of failures. Verifleet’s data also reveals that around a quarter of tyre failures at subsequent MOTs were previously recorded as advisories, suggesting that ignored warnings are directly fuelling the high failure rate.
Stuart Lovatt, chair of TyreSafe, said: “Verifleet’s data is a flashing amber light for the entire van sector. Our primary concern is that a quarter of tyre failures were previously noted as advisories. This means fleet managers had a documented warning and chose to gamble. As the only contact point between the vehicle and the road, a tyre advisory ignored on a loaded van is a critical safety gamble. Simple, regular checks save lives and prevent breakdowns.”
With more than 5.1 million vans now on UK roads, up 1.8% year on year, industry bodies warn that widespread non-compliance poses a major risk to safety and traffic flow. Mark Cartwright of National Highways said: “A vehicle breakdown on the strategic road network is not just a commercial inconvenience; it's a major cause of congestion and poses a significant risk to road users. When one in four vans is found to be non-compliant, it translates directly into avoidable safety incidents and hours of disruption for the 5 million-plus vehicles that are essential to the UK economy. Our Driving for Better Business programme urges operators to heed this data and prioritise vehicle roadworthiness.”
TyreSafe and its partners are urging operators to adopt six-monthly safety inspections focused on high-risk components, alongside zero-tolerance for ignored advisories and better use of data to identify vehicles showing patterns of neglect.