In 2025, 34,314 Peugeot 206 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 54% passed first time, compared with 58% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 206 worse than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 184 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 16 years old, 51% of 206s passed first time (all cars that age: 58%). By 20 years, that figure is 55% (all cars: 58%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 16 years (8 points behind).
Peugeot 206 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 206 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 years | 482 | 51% | 58% | 83,824 |
| 17 years | 998 | 56% | 57% | 77,417 |
| 18 years | 2,185 | 56% | 57% | 73,589 |
| 19 years | 4,992 | 55% | 57% | 83,207 |
| 20 years | 6,608 | 55% | 58% | 85,378 |
What fails most on a Peugeot 206
The area that lets the 206 down most, relative to other cars, is body and structure: 13.5% of tests failed on it, 3.3 times the rate for the average car.
Share of 206 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 11.2% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 8.2% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 7.6% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 7.2% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 6.4% |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | Body and structure | 5.7% |
What to check when buying a used 206
Based on where the 206 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Body and structure: Get underneath with a torch: sills, jacking points, subframe mounts and floor pans. Structural rust is the failure that can make a car uneconomic to fix. Repair guide
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
- Lights and electrics: Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, number-plate and fog lights. Bulbs are cheap, but a seller who hasn’t noticed one out may have missed more. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific 206
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 206Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Peugeot 206?
In 2025, 54% of Peugeot 206 cars passed their MOT first time, across 34,314 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 58%.
What do Peugeot 206 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (11.2% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (8.2% of tests); a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (7.6% of tests).
Other Peugeot models
Peugeot 208 (67%), Peugeot Partner (62%), Peugeot 308 (63%), Peugeot 3008 (68%), Peugeot 207 (50%), Peugeot 107 (61%). All Peugeot models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.