Recorded in
2.8% 4% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 3,075,825 records across 1,971 models.
Registration plate inscription illegible
The Registration plate inscription illegible MOT failure is recorded in 2.8% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 3,075,825 records across 1,971 models. A typical repair costs £20–£80. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Hyundai Getz records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
96%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£20–£80
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Registration plate inscription illegible means on an MOT
Registration plate inscription illegible is an MOT inspection item in the identification of the vehicle section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when registration plate inscription illegible. A registration plate must be clean, legible and secure, and read exactly as issued. The failure is reported against that rule, so the page uses the tester's own wording.
How common is Registration plate inscription illegible on an MOT?
Recorded in 2.8% of every MOT test in our data — 3,075,825 records across 1,971 models. That is 3% in every hundred tests, which puts Registration plate inscription illegible in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 3,075,825 records for this item, 3.5% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.5% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 96.0% are advisories that did not fail the car.
Other things testers write about this item
Testers do not all write the same thing. These are the exact DVSA strings from the records for this item, each with how many tests it was written on — the page's keyword vocabulary comes straight from them.
- Registration plates does not conform to the specified requirements — 135,563 records
- Registration plates insecure — 115,621 records
- Registration plates missing — 13,825 records
- Registration plates incorrect — 8,307 records
- Registration plates inscription missing — 4,956 records
What does it cost to fix Registration plate inscription illegible?
A typical repair on this item costs £20–£80 at UK prices, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. The bracket is our estimate from reported prices and parts, rather than a DVSA figure — see how it is built on the method page.
How the price brackets are built · full repair cost list · add it to your fail-sheet total.
Models that record Registration plate inscription illegible most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Hyundai Getz and Ford Focus C-Max lead the list: Hyundai Getz records it on 9.6% of its tests. The rate, not the volume, is what matters here — a model with 20,000 tests can outrank one with a million.
| # | Model | Rate | Tests | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai Getz | 9.6% | 76,810 | — |
| 2 | Ford Focus C-Max | 9.6% | 56,718 | — |
| 3 | Volkswagen Bora | 8.5% | 20,051 | — |
| 4 | Saab 9-5 | 8.2% | 28,153 | 2.9× · year by year → |
| 5 | Vauxhall Astravan | 8.0% | 30,363 | — |
| 6 | Nissan Almera | 7.9% | 54,229 | — |
| 7 | Hyundai Amica | 7.8% | 22,089 | — |
| 8 | Audi A2 | 7.4% | 25,108 | — |
| 9 | Vauxhall Vectra | 7.3% | 117,307 | — |
| 10 | Toyota Hi-Ace | 7.2% | 24,156 | 2.6× · year by year → |
| 11 | Hyundai Coupe | 7.1% | 23,404 | — |
| 12 | Volkswagen Lupo | 7.1% | 21,292 | — |
| 13 | Chevrolet Matiz | 7.1% | 40,193 | — |
| 14 | Toyota Hiace | 7.1% | 23,078 | — |
| 15 | Fiat Bravo | 7.0% | 20,488 | — |
| 16 | Lexus RX400H | 6.9% | 25,530 | — |
| 17 | Citroen C2 | 6.7% | 43,091 | — |
| 18 | Suzuki Wagon-R+ | 6.7% | 29,904 | — |
| 19 | Honda Fr-V | 6.3% | 27,466 | — |
| 20 | Peugeot 307 | 6.3% | 121,498 | — |
Which years of car record Registration plate inscription illegible
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4.0% |
| 2011 | 3.6% |
| 2012 | 3.1% |
| 2013 | 2.5% |
| 2014 | 2.1% |
| 2015 | 1.9% |
| 2016 | 1.6% |
| 2017 | 1.4% |
| 2018 | 1.2% |
| 2019 | 0.9% |
| 2020 | 0.7% |
| 2021 | 0.6% |
| 2022 | 0.5% |
| 2023 | 0.3% |
| 2024 | 0.1% |
These are rates by year of registration from 2010 to 2024, not year of test, so the curve mostly reflects age — a recent car has barely been to a test station. Compare models at the same age instead.
Frequently asked questions about Registration plate inscription illegible
How common is Registration plate inscription illegible on an MOT?
It is recorded in 2.8% of all MOT tests — 3,075,825 records across 1,971 models.
Does Registration plate inscription illegible fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
3.5% of the records for it are a fail, 0.5% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 96.0% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Registration plate inscription illegible most often?
Hyundai Getz and Ford Focus C-Max head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Hyundai Getz records it on 9.6%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Registration plate inscription illegible?
Typically £20–£80 fitted, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. That is an estimate from reported prices, not a DVSA figure.
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