Rover 200
From 288 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, emissions levels exceed default limits and emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits. The top issue, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, caused 12 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.
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 12 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 12 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 10 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 10 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 9 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 8 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 8 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 8 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 7 |
| 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. | 7 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 47.3% of failures are serious: 47.3% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 0% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £131.
Rover 200 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 424 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 424. At this rate, roughly 21.6 years until none remain. Now at 1.3% of its peak (710,634 in 1999 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,383 | 7,765 | +0 | -41 | -41 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,450 | 7,739 | +0 | -37 | -37 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,331 | 7,895 | +0 | -132 | -132 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,354 | 8,004 | +0 | -214 | -214 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,565 | 8,007 | +0 | -138 | -138 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,644 | 8,066 | +0 | -31 | -31 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,592 | 8,149 | +0 | -104 | -104 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,637 | 8,208 | +0 | -94 | -94 |
9 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 216 Cabriolet | Petrol | 140 | 21% |
| 214 Si | Petrol | 100 | 15% |
| 214 Sli | Diesel | 72 | 11% |
| 200 Brm | Petrol | 68 | 10% |
| 220 Coupe Turbo | Petrol | 64 | 10% |
| 216 Coupe | Petrol | 62 | 9% |
| 218 Vvc Coupe | Petrol | 59 | 9% |
| 214 Sei | Petrol | 56 | 8% |
| 216 Sli | Petrol | 51 | 8% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 75.6% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all 200s tested had between 59,514 and 97,665 miles on the clock.
At 76,951 median miles, the 200 has 0.033 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Rover models
| Rover Mini | 75.8% |
| Rover 75 | 67.7% |
| Rover 25 | 68.2% |
| Rover 45 | 65.3% |
| Rover 216 | 72% |
Common questions
What is the Rover 200 MOT pass rate?
The Rover 200 has a 74.7% MOT pass rate based on 288 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Rover 200?
The most common MOT failure on the Rover 200 is parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, which caused 12 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed default limits.
How many Rover 200s are on UK roads?
There are 1,383 Rover 200s currently licensed on UK roads, with 7,765 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Rover 200 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Rover 200 is 76,951 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 59,514 and 97,665 miles.
Buying a used 200?
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 74.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £131 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.