One in Four Cars Fails MOT Due to Excessive Emissions

25.7% of passenger cars that attended Vehicle Technical Inspection (MOT) stations in Spain during 2023 exhibited pollutant emission levels above the permitted limits.

This is revealed by an analysis from the Spanish Association of Collaborating Entities of the Administration in the Vehicle Technical Inspection (AECA-MOT), based on data from the Ministry of Industry and Tourism (MINTUR).

The total number of vehicles rejected due to emission failures has increased in recent years, becoming the second leading cause of rejection nationwide. In 2023, 21.5% of all inspected vehicles exceeded pollution limits, representing an increase of two percentage points compared to 2022.

These figures make passenger cars the type of vehicle with the highest defect rate in the emissions section of the MOT. They are followed by vans and trucks under 3,500 kg (17.4% defects) and motorcycles and quads (15.4%).

According to Guillermo Magaz, managing director of AECA-MOT, "this figure highlights the key role that the MOT plays in improving air quality by identifying vehicles whose emissions exceed the limits set by regulations."

The study by the Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), "Contribution of the MOT to road safety and the environment," underscores the positive impact of these inspections. Thanks to the MOT, each year the circulation of 935,556 excessively polluting vehicles is prevented, resulting in a reduction of 39,370 tonnes of pollutant particles and the prevention of 575 premature deaths associated with these emissions.

The report adds that if all vehicles avoiding the mandatory inspection had attended, an additional 207 premature deaths from particle exposure could have been prevented in a single year, further highlighting the importance of the MOT for public health and the environment.