Peugeot 306
From 8,097 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 306s fare better: 2002 models pass at 71.4% vs 66.7% for 1997.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement and exhaust system leaking or insecure. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 381 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 381 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 333 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 259 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 251 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 250 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 250 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 214 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 206 |
| 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. | 205 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 188 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 20.1% of 306 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 43.6% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £158.
Peugeot 306 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,313 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 1,313. At this rate, roughly 12.7 years until none remain. Now at 4.2% of its peak (395,790 in 2002 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,881 | 13,832 | +0 | -124 | -124 |
| 2025 Q2 | 3,019 | 13,818 | +0 | -125 | -125 |
| 2025 Q1 | 3,065 | 13,897 | +0 | -441 | -441 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,242 | 14,161 | +0 | -623 | -623 |
| 2024 Q3 | 3,546 | 14,480 | +1 | -341 | -340 |
| 2024 Q2 | 3,778 | 14,588 | +0 | -175 | -175 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,876 | 14,665 | +0 | -241 | -241 |
| 2023 Q4 | 4,055 | 14,727 | +0 | -226 | -226 |
14 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 306 Meridian | Diesel | 479 | 24% |
| 306 Meridian Hdi (90) | Diesel | 356 | 18% |
| 306 Gti 6 | Diesel | 168 | 8% |
| 306 Lx | Diesel | 156 | 8% |
| 306 Lx Auto | Petrol | 110 | 6% |
| 306 Cabriolet | Petrol | 104 | 5% |
| 306 D Turbo | Petrol | 96 | 5% |
| 306 Lx Hdi | Diesel | 83 | 4% |
| 306 D Turbo Hdi | Diesel | 82 | 4% |
| 306 L D | Petrol | 82 | 4% |
| 306 Cabriolet Se | Petrol | 71 | 4% |
| 306 Rallye 16V | Petrol | 71 | 4% |
| 306 Xsi | Petrol | 68 | 3% |
| 306 Lx Dt | Diesel | 51 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 71.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2001 | 67% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2000 | 64.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1999 | 62.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
5 earlier years
| 1998 | 68.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 1997 | 66.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 1996 | 71.8% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 1995 | 62.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1994 | 63% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all 306s tested had between 93,102 and 132,569 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 108,923 median miles, the 306 has 0.031 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Peugeot models
| Peugeot 208 | 75.2% |
| Peugeot Partner | 69.9% |
| Peugeot 3008 | 76.5% |
| Peugeot 308 | 71.6% |
| Peugeot 207 | 63.1% |
Common questions
What is the Peugeot 306 MOT pass rate?
The Peugeot 306 has a 65.8% MOT pass rate based on 8,097 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Peugeot 306?
The most common MOT failure on the Peugeot 306 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 381 failures. Other common issues include parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement.
How many Peugeot 306s are on UK roads?
There are 2,881 Peugeot 306s currently licensed on UK roads, with 13,832 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Peugeot 306 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Peugeot 306 is 108,923 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 93,102 and 132,569 miles.
Buying a used 306?
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 65.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £158 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.