MG 3
From 25,566 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 3s fare better: 2022 models pass at 87.2% vs 73.7% for 2014.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 476 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 476 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 439 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 408 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 350 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 340 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 319 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 283 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 276 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 274 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 245 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 70.9% of 3 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 0% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £115.
The warranty question
A 3-year-old 3 passes its MOT 85.8% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 78%, a 7.8 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. With an average repair bill of £115 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a 3 that's past its third birthday.
MG 3 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 12,587 newly registered in the past year with 1,402 leaving, a net gain of 11,185. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 46,065 | 545 | +4,257 | -747 | +3,510 |
| 2025 Q2 | 42,535 | 565 | +3,145 | -398 | +2,747 |
| 2025 Q1 | 39,891 | 462 | +2,876 | -174 | +2,702 |
| 2024 Q4 | 37,220 | 431 | +2,309 | -83 | +2,226 |
| 2024 Q3 | 34,985 | 440 | +3,257 | -1 | +3,256 |
| 2024 Q2 | 31,663 | 506 | +3,171 | -68 | +3,103 |
| 2024 Q1 | 28,676 | 390 | +892 | -54 | +838 |
| 2023 Q4 | 27,893 | 335 | +768 | -173 | +595 |
15 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Trophy Hev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 12,275 | 27% |
| 3 Exclusive Nav Vti-Tech | Petrol | 10,902 | 24% |
| 3 Excite Vti-Tech | Petrol | 5,765 | 13% |
| 3 Style Vti-Tech | Petrol | 3,227 | 7% |
| 3 Exclusive Vti-Tech | Petrol | 3,060 | 7% |
| 3 Form Sport Vti-Tech | Petrol | 2,430 | 5% |
| 3 Style + Vti-Tech | Petrol | 1,684 | 4% |
| 3 Se Hev Auto | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,612 | 4% |
| 3 Se | Petrol | 1,529 | 3% |
| 3 Style Lux Vti-Tech | Petrol | 1,480 | 3% |
| 3 Style Plus Lux Vti-Tech | Petrol | 990 | 2% |
| 3 Form Plus Sport Vti-Tech | Petrol | 810 | 2% |
| 3 Form Vti-Tech | Petrol | 134 | <1% |
| 3 Time Vti-Tech | Petrol | 83 | <1% |
| 3 90Th Le Vti-Tech | Petrol | 50 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 87.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2021 | 86.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2020 | 85.8% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 84.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
6 earlier years
| 2018 | 80.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2017 | 75.8% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 78% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 73.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction |
| 2014 | 73.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction |
| 2013 | 80.8% | an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all 3s tested had between 24,398 and 49,815 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 38,678 median miles, the 3 has 0.053 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other MG models
| MG Zs | 81.9% |
| MG Zs Exclusive Ev | 89.5% |
| MG Tf | 75% |
| MG Mgf | 72.8% |
| MG Zs Exclusive Vti-Tech | 90.4% |
Common questions
What is the MG 3 MOT pass rate?
The MG 3 has a 79.4% MOT pass rate based on 25,566 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a MG 3?
The most common MOT failure on the MG 3 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 476 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many MG 3s are on UK roads?
There are 46,065 MG 3s currently licensed on UK roads, with 545 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a MG 3 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a MG 3 is 38,678 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 24,398 and 49,815 miles.
Buying a used 3?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 79.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £115 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.