Number of unroadworthy cars on our roads has soared in the last year

The number of motorists caught driving unroadworthy vehicles has jumped by more than half in a year - and the RAC warns this is 'only the tip of the iceberg’.

A freedom of information request to the Driver Licensing Agency (DVLA) by the RAC’s mobile servicing and repairs division has found that there’s been a substantial increase in the number of drivers being given points endorsements in the last 12 months.

The RAC found that a total of 13,109 penalty point endorsements were dished out to motorists in 2024 for driving vehicles with defective brakes, tyres, steering and other problems. This is up by 4,495 recorded in 2023.

The offence attracts three penalty points which stay on drivers’ licences for four years.

However, the motoring organisation believes the number of unroadworthy vehicles on UK roads is likely far higher as the figures only account for those caught.

And with vehicles failing almost 10million MOT tests a year, there’s even more reason to believe that the accurate number of cars that aren’t mechanically sound - but still being driven - is at an epidemic level.

Driving a vehicle with defective tyres was the biggest reason drivers received points last year, with 8,945 people being stopped and having their licences endorsed – up 44 per cent on the 6,196 drivers in 2023.

A total of 1,190 drivers received penalty points for having unroadworthy brakes in 2024, up from 181 a year earlier – a more than six-fold increase.

On top of this, 2,974 endorsements were handed to drivers for other problems related to roadworthiness of their vehicles, such as defective steering. There was an increase of a third from 2023, when 2,237 endorsements were recorded.

The rise has been linked to cost of living squeeze with car owners attempting to save money by not spending on consumable parts for their motors.

RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: 'The steep increase in drivers receiving points on their licences for unroadworthy vehicles is a cause for alarm as it could indicate more drivers are running the gauntlet and driving unsafe vehicles – although it’s also possible more drivers are being caught by the police.

‘By getting the behind the wheel of vehicles that are defective, a minority of drivers are needlessly putting the law-abiding majority at serious risk.'

Particular areas of the UK saw concerning rises in unroadworthy cars being driven.

The East Midlands recorded the largest increase in drivers receiving endorsements, an 87 per cent increase from 374 drivers in 2023 to 700 last year, while central Scotland saw an increase if 5 per cent from 46 drivers in 2023 to last year.

Only mid Wales and south west Wales saw drivers receive fewer points: a fall from 42 to 38 drivers and from 109 to 100 drivers respectively.

Overall, of all locations in the UK for which there is data, the RAC’s analysis found more drivers in Greater London received penalty points for using unroadworthy vehicles than in any other part of the country – 1,765 last year, up from 1,464 in 2023 (21 per cent increase).

Yorkshire and the Humber was second, with 1,373 drivers receiving endorsements in 2024, up from 1,042 a year earlier (32 per cent rise).

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In June, the RAC found one in six drivers who overlooked an MOT advisory in the past 12 months experienced a vehicle breakdown or a crash as a result of this unattended issue raised by the MOT garage.

The annual MOT - which is carried out from a car, van or motorcycle's third year of registration and deems whether a car is roadworthy – checks a number of consumable parts, such as lights, seatbelts, tyres and brakes to ensure they meet legal standards.

While major issues will automatically fail the test, minor issues won’t fail the vehicle but indicate an issues that needs to be addressed in the near future to ensure it remains safe and legal.

Minors commonly include tyre tread close to the legal limit, brake pads almost worn out, and small oil leaks.

More than two in five of drivers polled by the RAC said their last MOT resulted in one or more advisories. Yet 54 per cent of these respondents admitted they didn't act on the warning and failed to get the problem fixed.

As such, 17 per cent of this group confirmed their vehicle broke down or was involved in a crash as a direct consequence of the defect raised as an advisory notice by the MOT station.

Abir Tewari, UK director of commercial operations at eBay, says that ‘regular maintenance is more important than ever’ as cars stay on the road longer.

Abir encourages people to make ‘simple affordable fixes’: ‘Replacing wipers or headlight bulbs can make a big difference, and with tyre installation services through our trusted partners, upgrading tyres is just as seamless.’