The UK could be crawling with unsafe cars, and the stats back it up. New figures show a 50% surge in drivers caught with unroadworthy vehicles over the past year, and experts say that’s likely “just the tip of the iceberg.”
A Freedom of Information request from the RAC revealed that in 2024, 13,109 drivers were slapped with penalty points for having cars that weren’t fit for the road, a huge jump from 8,614 in 2023.
But here’s the kicker: the RAC says these figures barely scratch the surface. With over 10 million vehicles failing their MOTs every year, there could be far more unsafe cars out there that never get caught.
RAC mobile repairs boss Nick Mullender said the spike is worrying. “The steep increase in drivers receiving points on their licences for unroadworthy vehicles is a cause for alarm because 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.”
London tops the list
London drivers led the pack in 2024, with 1,765 people pulled over for unsafe vehicles. The East Midlands saw the biggest percentage jump, up 80%, while most of Wales outside the South East stayed steady or even dropped. Across the UK as a whole, offences rose 52% year-on-year.
Chief Superintendent Marc Clothier from the National Roads Policing Unit put it bluntly. “If you are driving an unroadworthy vehicle with defects such as tyres or brakes, you are not only putting yourself at risk, but you are putting the lives of other road users at risk too.
What counts as unsafe?
The most common reason was dodgy tyres. Nearly 9,000 drivers were penalised in 2024 for having worn-out tread. Other reasons range from busted headlights to faulty brakes. Any of these could earn you three penalty points and up to a £2,500 fine if your MOT’s already failed.
Mullender’s advice is to “keep on top of routine maintenance and get any issues checked by a well-qualified mobile mechanic or reputable garage”.
You can view your MOT history and advisories with Regit's free MOT history check.
