A recent study analyzing 47.4 million MOT tests has found that electric vehicles (EVs) with higher mileage are less likely to fail their tests compared to similar petrol-powered models. The research, commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and conducted by transport experts New Automotive, shows that EV failure rates stabilize around 60,000 miles, whereas petrol and diesel cars continue to see increasing failure rates as mileage rises. For cars aged three to eight years with 90,000 to 120,000 miles, 16.5% of EVs failed their MOT, compared to 22.1% of petrol cars, meaning EVs were about 25% less likely to fail. The gap widened further at higher mileages, with 16% of EVs failing compared to 23.5% of petrol cars above 120,000 miles. However, at lower mileages—between 20,000 and 40,000 miles—the failure rates were nearly equal, with 12% for EVs and 11.7% for petrol cars. It is important to note that MOT tests assess a vehicle’s roadworthiness rather than every aspect of its reliability. The tests do not evaluate battery health, remaining battery capacity, or charging performance, nor do they cover software issues or unexpected repairs covered under warranty. The BVRLA advises that battery health should be considered alongside roadworthiness when evaluating a used EV. While EVs had a higher rate of tyre defects—around 1.8 times that of petrol cars—this issue was more common in some earlier models adapted from petrol or diesel designs. However, EVs had fewer suspension defects. Between 60,000 and 90,000 miles, EVs recorded 4.7 suspension defects per 100 tests, compared to 6.1 for petrol cars. Brake defects showed a mixed trend: higher-mileage EVs had fewer issues, but older EVs with lower mileage had more conventional brake problems, which researchers attributed to corrosion from less frequent use. Hybrid vehicles also performed well, with lower failure rates than both petrol and fully electric cars in several categories. Older EVs were found to stay on the road longer, with 94.6% of 15-year-old electric models returning for another MOT within 30 months, compared to 88.1% of petrol cars. Additionally, EVs typically logged higher annual mileage than petrol cars across all age groups examined, with 12-year-old EVs averaging around 4,920 miles per year compared to 4,410 for petrol cars. Toby Poston, CEO of the BVRLA, emphasized that mileage alone should not deter consumers from buying used EVs. He noted that a well-maintained, high-mileage electric car can be a durable option. However, buyers are advised to thoroughly inspect the car's history, condition, tyres, and battery health, just as they would with a petrol or diesel car.