Know Your MOT

MOT failure rate and common problems for the International School, and how to check your own car by registration.

Updated 05 September 2026.

25.8%fail rate

International School MOT failure rate

What a International School fails its MOT on, and the part that fixes each.

What it fails on, and why

Lamps & electrical50.0% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Brakes50.0% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Other37.5% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Visibility/wipers18.8% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Tyres12.5% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Seat belts12.5% of failures

Seat-belt failures are frays, cuts, corroded anchorages, or a belt that will not lock under a sharp pull or retract properly.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the lamps & electrical failure: International School headlight and indicator bulbsShop International School headlight and indicator bulbs on AmazonaffiliateFind International School headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: International School brake pads and discsShop International School brake pads and discs on AmazonaffiliateFind International School brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: International School wiper bladesShop International School wiper blades on AmazonaffiliateFind International School wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: International School tyresShop International School tyres on AmazonaffiliateFind International School tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the seat belts failure: International School seat beltsShop International School seat belts on AmazonaffiliateFind International School seat belts on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Ford Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rateFord Focus MOT failures26.1% failure rateVauxhall Corsa MOT failures29.9% failure rateVauxhall Astra MOT failures28.0% failure rate

Questions and answers

What is the MOT failure rate of the International School?

It fails 25.8% of its MOT tests across the DVSA record, from 62 tests.

What do these cars fail their MOT on most?

The most common failure area is lamps & electrical, at 50.0% of this model's failures.