1981 Reliant Scimitar — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

75.7%

Latest Pass Rate

778

Total Tests (All Years)

50,154 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1981 Reliant Scimitar as it ages.

28 yrs61.8%

→ ↑7.6%

29 yrs69.4%

→ ↓7.1%

30 yrs62.3%

→ ↑6.1%

31 yrs68.4%

→ ↑1.3%

32 yrs69.7%

→ ↓0.6%

33 yrs69.1%

→ ↓0.3%

34 yrs68.8%

→ ↓3.1%

35 yrs65.7%

→ ↓2.5%

36 yrs63.2%

→ ↑3.5%

37 yrs66.7%

→ ↑21.1%

38 yrs87.8%

→ ↓16.7%

39 yrs71.1%

→ ↑4.6%

40 yrs75.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	61.8%	76
29 yrs	69.4%	72
30 yrs	62.3%	69
31 yrs	68.4%	76
32 yrs	69.7%	66
33 yrs	69.1%	68
34 yrs	68.8%	64
35 yrs	65.7%	70
36 yrs	63.2%	57
37 yrs	66.7%	36
38 yrs	87.8%	49
39 yrs	71.1%	38
40 yrs	75.7%	37

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Reliant Scimitar pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (40 yrs)	75.7%	37
2020 (39 yrs)	71.1%	38
2019 (38 yrs)	87.8%	49
2018 (37 yrs)	66.7%	36
2017 (36 yrs)	63.2%	57
2016 (35 yrs)	65.7%	70
2015 (34 yrs)	68.8%	64
2014 (33 yrs)	69.1%	68
2013 (32 yrs)	69.7%	66
2012 (31 yrs)	68.4%	76
2011 (30 yrs)	62.3%	69
2010 (29 yrs)	69.4%	72
2009 (28 yrs)	61.8%	76

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 76Avg Mileage 52,021Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%

2010

69.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 72Avg Mileage 51,198Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.6%

2011High Fail Rate

62.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 69Avg Mileage 51,736Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.1%

2012

68.4%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 76Avg Mileage 49,308Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.4%

2013

69.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 66Avg Mileage 49,310Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.5%

2014

69.1%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 68Avg Mileage 59,489Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.2%

2015

68.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 64Avg Mileage 48,590Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.6%

2016

65.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 70Avg Mileage 48,578Top Failure Brakes — 44.3%

2017High Fail Rate

63.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 57Avg Mileage 48,357Top Failure Brakes — 45.6%

2018

66.7%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 36Avg Mileage 40,866Top Failure Suspension — 36.1%

2019

87.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 49Avg Mileage 51,181Top Failure Suspension — 22.4%

2020

71.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 38Avg Mileage 60,171Top Failure Suspension — 36.8%

2021

75.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 37Avg Mileage 50,154Top Failure Brakes — 32.4%

MOT results for 1981 Reliant Scimitar by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	61.8%	76	52,021	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%
2010	29	69.4%	72	51,198	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.6%
2011	30	62.3%	69	51,736	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.1%
2012	31	68.4%	76	49,308	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.4%
2013	32	69.7%	66	49,310	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.5%
2014	33	69.1%	68	59,489	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.2%
2015	34	68.8%	64	48,590	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.6%
2016	35	65.7%	70	48,578	Brakes — 44.3%
2017	36	63.2%	57	48,357	Brakes — 45.6%
2018	37	66.7%	36	40,866	Suspension — 36.1%
2019	38	87.8%	49	51,181	Suspension — 22.4%
2020	39	71.1%	38	60,171	Suspension — 36.8%
2021	40	75.7%	37	50,154	Brakes — 32.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Reliant Scimitar, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

27.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

26.5%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

20.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

18.2%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	17.1% (28 yrs)	32.4% (40 yrs)	+15.3%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	17.1% (28 yrs)	32.4% (40 yrs)	+15.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Reliant Scimitar page →

About This Data

This page shows how Reliant Scimitar cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 778 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.