MOT cost .

Volvo

240

1,730 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where 240s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 5.9 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.

Pass

69.8%

Pass-after-fix

4.0%

Fail

25.2%

Avg miles

143,699

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

240: a below-average pass rate worth digging into

Across 1,730 MOT tests, the 240 returns 69.8% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is the strength or continuity of the load bearing. A number-plate lamp out and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 143,699, 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.

  1. 01

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    107 occurrences · 6.2% of tests

  2. 02

    A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

    103 occurrences · 6.0% of tests

  3. 03

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

    101 occurrences · 5.8% of tests

  4. 04

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    86 occurrences · 5.0% of tests

  5. 05

    Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

    71 occurrences · 4.1% of tests

  6. 06

    An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

    62 occurrences · 3.6% of tests

  7. 07

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

    52 occurrences · 3.0% of tests

  8. 08

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    49 occurrences · 2.8% of tests

  9. 09

    Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

    45 occurrences · 2.6% of tests

  10. 10

    Exhaust system leaking or insecure

    44 occurrences · 2.5% 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

£78–£295

If every one of this 240'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.

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

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

Headlight restoration kit

Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.

Search Amazon UK

Buying or keeping a 240?

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 240 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.