The picture
California: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,510 MOT tests, the California returns 94.1% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a defective wiper blade. A seriously damaged tyre and wipers that don't clear the screen round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 22,342, 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.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Wiper blade defective
19 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 02
A tyre seriously damaged
12 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 03
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
9 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 04
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
9 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 05
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
7 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 06
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 07
Windscreen or window excessively tinted but not adversely affecting driver's view
6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 08
A tyre seriously damaged
6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 09
A tyre seriously damaged
6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 10
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
4 occurrences · 0.3% 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 3 failures
£55–£125
If every one of this California'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 →
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Build your own retest budget.
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
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
Buying or keeping a California?
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 California 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.