MG Rv8
From 1,120 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits and steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 15 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 15 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 14 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 13 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 11 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 8 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 7 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 7 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 7 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 6 |
| stop lamps all missing or inoperative | 6 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 26.6% of Rv8 failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £88.
MG Rv8 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 8 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 4 newly registered, a net loss of 4.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 394 | 212 | +1 | -4 | -3 |
| 2025 Q2 | 412 | 197 | +1 | -1 | +0 |
| 2025 Q1 | 276 | 333 | +1 | -0 | +1 |
| 2024 Q4 | 259 | 349 | +1 | -3 | -2 |
| 2024 Q3 | 380 | 230 | +1 | -0 | +11 |
| 2024 Q2 | 397 | 202 | +0 | -0 | +41 |
| 2024 Q1 | 303 | 255 | +1 | -43 | -42 |
| 2023 Q4 | 265 | 335 | +1 | -9 | -8 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 89.8% | braking effort not recording at a wheel, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1995 | 87.5% | emissions levels exceed default limits, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1994 | 91.8% | brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users |
| 1993 | 85.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
Typical mileage
Half of all Rv8s tested had between 12,403 and 41,520 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 21,586 median miles, the Rv8 has 0.05 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other MG models
| MG Zs | 81.9% |
| MG 3 | 79.4% |
| MG Zs Exclusive Ev | 89.5% |
| MG Tf | 75% |
| MG Mgf | 72.8% |
Common questions
What is the MG Rv8 MOT pass rate?
The MG Rv8 has a 89.1% MOT pass rate based on 1,120 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a MG Rv8?
The most common MOT failure on the MG Rv8 is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 15 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed default limits.
How many MG Rv8s are on UK roads?
There are 394 MG Rv8s currently licensed on UK roads, with 212 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a MG Rv8 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a MG Rv8 is 21,586 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 12,403 and 41,520 miles.
Buying a used Rv8?
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.
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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.