Ferrari California: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Ferrari California passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 18.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,426 individual Ferrari California tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 94.9% first-time pass rate means roughly 5 in every 100 Ferrari Californias presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Ferrari California tested had covered 23,692 miles and was built around 2013.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Ferrari California sits 18.2 points above the national average, ranked 62 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Ferrari California rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Ferrari Californias at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Ferrari California

1. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.2% of tests
2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.8% of tests
3. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.8% of tests
4. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.6% of tests (3.38x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.6% of tests
6. Number plate missing or so insecure that it is likely to fall off, 0.3% of tests (8.84x the national rate for this defect)
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 0.3% of tests
8. A tyre fouling a part of the vehicle, 0.2% of tests (8.36x the national rate for this defect)
9. Audible warning inoperative, 0.2% of tests
10. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 0.2% of tests

From 1,442 DVSA-tracked Ferrari California tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.62% of these flagged Ferrari California defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Ferrari California

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Ferrari California before it actually fails on it.

1. A tyre seriously damaged, 13.5% of tests, also fails
2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 8.5% of tests
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.8% of tests, also fails
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.6% of tests, also fails
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.3% of tests
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 0.9% of tests, also fails
7. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.6% of tests
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.5% of tests
9. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 0.4% of tests
10. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 0.3% of tests

From 1,442 DVSA-tracked Ferrari California tests, 2024.

Ferrari California pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Ferrari California year:

• 2010 Ferrari California - 96.1% first-time pass, 205 tests
• 2015 Ferrari California - 94.9% first-time pass, 237 tests
• 2016 Ferrari California - 95.6% first-time pass, 206 tests

Other Ferrari models

• Ferrari F430 - 94.4%
• Ferrari 488 - 96.9%
• Ferrari 360 - 94.4%
• Ferrari F355 - 93.4%
• Ferrari Portofino S-A - 94%
• Ferrari 458 - 96.8%
• Ferrari 812 Superfast S-A - 96.4%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Mercedes-Benz Gla 200 Amg Line Premium + A - 95%
• LEVC Tx - 94.9%
• Aston Martin Dbs - 94.9%
• Lexus Ux 300e - 94.9%
• Mazda Cx-30 GT Sport Tech Mhev Auto - 94.9%
• Volkswagen T-Roc Sel Tsi Evo S-A - 94.8%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate