The UK is suffering from an unusual problem on its roads. One of several that we have covered recently, such as an unusual 50-year-old parking rule. This is the fact that there are a worryingly large number of cars currently on its roads that shouldn’t be.
It sounds a bit too crazy to be true, but it is. In the past year, the RAC has said that more than 10,000 drivers have been caught driving on British roads in unroadworthy vehicles. In other words, cars that are not safe to be on the road.
This information came to light after the RAC submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and it has revealed the shocking reality behind some cars on Britain’s roads. While it was a decrease compared to 2024, it was still a hugely worrying statistic.
Cars in the UK have to go through an MOT before they are allowed to go on the roads. These happen every year, and if a car fails an MOT, then it is not allowed to be driven. However, it appears that some people don’t seem to have got the message on that front.
How Many Unroadworthy Vehicles Were on Britain’s Roads in 2025?
According to the RAC, the total number of defective drivers with defective vehicles on Britain’s roads in 2025 was 10,054. This was the number of penalty point endorsements awarded to drivers for driving their cars in an unsafe condition. Britain’s road authorities want to clamp down on this as much as possible.
In terms of what was wrong with the cars, it ranged from defective brakes, tyres, and steering issues to many more problems. The positive was that this was a decrease of 3,055 endorsements compared to 2024, which was 13,109. However, it was still a worryingly high number reported. Of course, driving with any of those defects endangers not just your life and the occupants of the car, but those around you as well.
In terms of the biggest offenders, that was drivers with defective tires on their vehicles. The RAC said that 6,670 people were stopped in 2025 for having defective tires. Not only can you get points for this, but it can also lead to a fine of £2,500, or $3,385. If all four tires are defective, the fine could rise to £10,000 or roughly $13,542. There were at least 3,384 instances where drivers had problems with the steering on their cars or the brakes.
There Could Be More Unroadworthy Vehicles on the Uk’s Roads
However, while these were the reported instances of unroadworthy vehicles, the real number could be much higher. This figure only represents those who have been caught. Roughly 10 million MOTs fail each year, meaning the real number of unsafe vehicles out on British roads could actually be much, much higher. As the RAC itself put it, this could be just the tip of the iceberg. RAC Servicing and Repair Mechanic of the Year Jack Halstead said: “Far too many vehicles are unfit for the roads, posing a danger not only to the driver, but to other road users as well.”
Poor brakes can, of course, hurt your chances of slowing down. Bald tires can offer little grip, which can also increase stopping distances and raise the risk of blowouts. With fewer police officers in the UK monitoring the situation, there are likely to be a lot of people simply going undetected who are driving illegal vehicles on the road. Not getting your car sorted risks your life and those of your loved ones and everyone around you.