Ferrari
4,504 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where 488s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 18.9 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
96.4%
Pass-after-fix
2.1%
Fail
1.1%
Avg miles
11,196
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Trim variants
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 4,504 tests
Pass rate drops 1.9 points across the cohorts — recent 488 examples are doing worse than the early cars at the same tested age.
Pass
96.8%
Fail
1.4%
PRS
1.6%
Avg mileage at test
11,426 mi
Pass
94.9%
Fail
0.3%
PRS
4.1%
Avg mileage at test
10,240 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,149 MOT tests, the 488 returns 95.7% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen or window excessively tinted. A defective wiper blade and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 9,159, 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
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 →
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Windscreen or window excessively tinted but not adversely affecting driver's view
58 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
Wiper blade defective
48 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
Number plate missing or so insecure that it is likely to fall off
13 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
8 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
7 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
5 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
5 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
4 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
3 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
3 occurrences · 0.1% 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.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£155–£270
If every one of this 488's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 1.9-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Ferrari 488 makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
96.8%
Pre-2018 registration
the older band (pre-2018) climbs to 96.8% — a 1.9-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: excessively tinted but not adversely affecting driver's view, blade defective — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
94.9%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 94.9% pass rate against a fleet average of 96.8% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: slightly damaged, has ply or cords exposed, and lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside…. Average mileage on test for this band is 10,240 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: pre-2018 (96.8% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (94.9% pass). That's a 1.9-point spread across 876 older tests and 3,628 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
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
Item 02 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
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Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Recall history
The 488 has 1 official UK vehicle recall covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
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 488 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.
