Performance by cohort

3 year bands · 4,467 tests

Pass rate climbs 6.6 points across the cohorts — newer Dbs examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.

Pre-2018 cohort 1,864

Pass

92.8%

Fail

4.0%

PRS

2.3%

Avg mileage at test

28,413 mi

2018–2020 cohort 2,114

Pass

97.6%

Fail

1.6%

PRS

0.6%

Avg mileage at test

12,537 mi

2021+ cohort 489

Pass

99.4%

Fail

0.6%

PRS

0.0%

Avg mileage at test

7,802 mi

Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.

The picture

Dbs: a strong MOT record by UK norms

Across 1,452 MOT tests, the Dbs returns 93.9% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A seriously damaged tyre and a non-conforming number plate round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 21,348, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

ABI Insurance Group

Group 46–50

A high-group car — insurance costs will be significantly above average. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.

Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →

46–50

out of 50

Compare quotes →

Top ten reasons for rejection.

Filter failures:

Hide wear items to see the model's real defects.

01

Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

28 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
02

Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen

19 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
03

A tyre seriously damaged

14 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
04

Wiper blade defective

13 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
05

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

11 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
06

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

11 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
07

Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction

10 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
08

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

10 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
09

Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

8 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
10

Stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning

7 occurrences · 0.2% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Year-band analysis

Best year to buy. Worst to avoid.

First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 6.6-point gap between bands means the year you buy Aston Martin Dbs has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.

Best band to buy

99.4%

2021+ registration

the 2021-on band climbs to 99.4% — a 6.6-point improvement. Tests in this band average 7,802 miles — roughly 21K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: has a cut in excess of the…, inoperative — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.

Band to be cautious about

92.8%

Pre-2018 registration

On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 92.8% pass rate against a fleet average of 99.4% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, blade defective, and not working. Average mileage on test for this band is 28,413 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.

Best band to buy: 2021+ (99.4% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (92.8% pass). That's a 6.6-point spread across 1,864 older tests and 489 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.

Year-spread leaderboard →

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades

Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.

Search Amazon UK

My Motor World · affiliate

Parts & supplies for this fix

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Motor World

Motor World Aston Martin V8 Vantage 2005- Car Floor Mat Set

£32.99

View at My Motor World →

Click Mechanic · affiliate

Book a mobile mechanic

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Mobile mechanic · UK-wide

Book a mechanic at your door.

Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.

Get a quote →

Recall history

8 UK recalls on record.

The Dbs has 8 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.

See all recalls

Buying or keeping a Dbs?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a Dbs and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.