Porsche Carrera
From 720 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot 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 25 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.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 25 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 19 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 13 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 11 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 11 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 9 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 9 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 8 |
| number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 8 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 7 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 24.2% of Carrera 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 £64.
Porsche Carrera on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 17 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 16.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,105 | 771 | +0 | -0 | +7 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,095 | 774 | +0 | -0 | +23 |
| 2025 Q1 | 845 | 1,001 | +0 | -0 | +3 |
| 2024 Q4 | 829 | 1,014 | +1 | -17 | -16 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,071 | 788 | +0 | -0 | +26 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,062 | 771 | +0 | -0 | +90 |
| 2024 Q1 | 875 | 868 | +1 | -93 | -92 |
| 2023 Q4 | 844 | 991 | +0 | -8 | -8 |
5 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrera Coupe Sport | Petrol | 352 | 40% |
| Carrera Targa Sport | Diesel | 201 | 23% |
| Carrera Coupe | Diesel | 181 | 20% |
| Carrera Cabrio Sport | Petrol | 95 | 11% |
| Carrera Cabriolet | Petrol | 58 | 7% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Typical mileage
Half of all Carreras tested had between 65,412 and 114,905 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 83,950 median miles, the Carrera has 0.019 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Porsche models
| Porsche 911 | 90.7% |
| Porsche Macan | 93.6% |
| Porsche Cayenne | 89.5% |
| Porsche Boxster | 86.8% |
| Porsche Cayman | 92.1% |
Common questions
What is the Porsche Carrera MOT pass rate?
The Porsche Carrera has a 84.3% MOT pass rate based on 720 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Porsche Carrera?
The most common MOT failure on the Porsche Carrera is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 25 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Porsche Carreras are on UK roads?
There are 1,105 Porsche Carreras currently licensed on UK roads, with 771 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Porsche Carrera at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Porsche Carrera is 83,950 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 65,412 and 114,905 miles.
Buying a used Carrera?
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 84.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £64 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.