MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the BMW X1 fail the MOT on vehicle identification more than it should?

The BMW X1 records 0.26 vehicle identification failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 0.29 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (−0.03, 95% interval −0.05 to −0.02). It ranks 371 of 636 models on vehicle identification (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on vehicle identification · check a BMW X1 by registration

What exactly fails on vehicle identification?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the BMW X1 is “Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements”, recorded 954 times in 2019–2024.

BMW X1: most frequent vehicle identification defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements9540.19
Number plate inscription missing or illegible1580.03
Number plate missing or so insecure that it is likely to fall off1100.02
Number plate showing an incorrect registration 620.01

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 503,065 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

If a BMW X1 gets a vehicle identification advisory, how often does it fail next time?

2.0% of BMW X1 MOTs with a vehicle identification advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 8,305 miles later (2,759 advisories followed).

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,759 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Other pages for this model

BMW X1 2009 · BMW X1 2010 · BMW X1 2011 · BMW X1 2012 · BMW X1 2013 · BMW X1 2014 · BMW X1 2015 · BMW X1 2016 · BMW X1 2017 · BMW X1 2018 · BMW X1 2019 · BMW X1 2020 · BMW X1 in Norway · BMW X1 in Finland · BMW X1 in the Netherlands · BMW X1 by postcode area · BMW X1 body, chassis and structure failures · BMW X1 brakes failures · BMW X1 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · BMW X1 noise, emissions and leaks failures · BMW X1 road wheels failures · BMW X1 seat belts and airbags failures · BMW X1 steering failures · BMW X1 suspension failures · BMW X1 tyres failures · BMW X1 visibility failures