mechanics.tradeNumber plate light
Number plate light came up 1,896,386 times at the MOT during 2025, the 2nd most recorded defect on the list.
1,896,386recorded in 2025
6.2%of all recorded defects
2ndon the national list
What it is
This is the small bulb that lights your rear number plate after dark. Where a car has two and only one has failed, the tester writes it down as minor; where every one is out, it becomes a major fault.
What the tester can write down
What the tester writes depends on how serious it is: major and minor.
| Wording on the certificate | Category | Recorded in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | Minor | 1,355,665 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | Major | 421,026 |
What you can do about it
It is among the cheapest things on this whole list to put right, and you can check it yourself in under a minute. Switch your sidelights on at dusk and walk round to the back of the car.
Nearby on the list
Every defect on the list, from 42,728,066 MOT tests in 2025.