MOT fail rate by postcode area, 2025 The share of 33,210,823 first MOT tests in 2025 that ended in an initial fail, by postcode area of the test station.
By postcode area First MOT by model DundeeDD 38.6% Kirkcaldy (Fife)KY 38.6% AberdeenAB 35.9% Shetland (Lerwick)ZE 35.4% PaisleyPA 34.8% FalkirkFK 34.3% MotherwellML 34.3% PerthPH 33.9% EdinburghEH 33.3% BristolBS 33.0% KilmarnockKA 32.8% ExeterEX 32.7% PlymouthPL 32.5% Llandrindod WellsLD 32.4% LincolnLN 32.1% SunderlandSR 32.1% TruroTR 32.1% GlasgowG 32.0% SalisburySP 32.0% BlackpoolFY 31.7% CardiffCF 31.6% HullHU 31.6% InvernessIV 31.5% BathBA 31.4% SwanseaSA 31.2% BrightonBN 31.1% DarlingtonDL 31.1% TorquayTQ 31.0% HuddersfieldHD 30.8% Galashiels (Borders)TD 30.7% ChesterCH 30.6% PortsmouthPO 30.6% NewportNP 30.5% WiganWN 30.2% YorkYO 30.2% BournemouthBH 30.0% TauntonTA 29.8% CarlisleCA 29.5% NorthamptonNN 29.5% DorchesterDT 29.4% HalifaxHX 29.4% Outer HebridesHS 29.4% GloucesterGL 29.2% Kirkwall (Orkney)KW 29.2% Stoke-on-TrentST 29.0% TeessideTS 29.0% LancasterLA 28.8% LeedsLS 28.7% HarrogateHG 28.6% StockportSK 28.6% CreweCW 28.5% SwindonSN 28.5% NottinghamNG 28.4% WarringtonWA 28.4% LlandudnoLL 28.2% WatfordWD 28.2% NewcastleNE 28.1% SouthamptonSO 28.0% WalsallWS 28.0% PrestonPR 27.9% DoncasterDN 27.8% NorwichNR 27.8% CanterburyCT 27.7% CambridgeCB 27.6% ShrewsburySY 27.6% GuildfordGU 27.5% IpswichIP 27.5% DurhamDH 27.4% OxfordOX 27.4% TelfordTF 27.4% ColchesterCO 27.2% TonbridgeTN 27.0% LiverpoolL 26.8% HerefordHR 26.5% PeterboroughPE 26.5% WakefieldWF 26.5% WorcesterWR 26.5% OldhamOL 26.4% BoltonBL 26.3% ManchesterM 26.3% DumfriesDG 26.1% StevenageSG 26.1% Milton KeynesMK 26.0% WolverhamptonWV 25.8% RedhillRH 25.5% DudleyDY 25.4% DerbyDE 25.3% ChelmsfordCM 25.2% LeicesterLE 25.2% MedwayME 25.2% St AlbansAL 25.2% ReadingRG 25.1% BradfordBD 25.0% CoventryCV 24.9% Hemel HempsteadHP 24.6% SheffieldS 24.4% BlackburnBB 24.2% South East LondonSE 24.1% LutonLU 23.9% West LondonW 23.9% South West LondonSW 23.8% North West LondonNW 23.5% BirminghamB 23.4% DartfordDA 23.3% BromleyBR 23.0% East LondonE 22.9% SouthendSS 22.9% North LondonN 22.8% CroydonCR 22.6% EnfieldEN 22.3% Kingston upon ThamesKT 22.1% TwickenhamTW 22.1% HarrowHA 21.7% RomfordRM 21.4% IlfordIG 21.2% SloughSL 21.2% Southall/UxbridgeUB 20.6% SuttonSM 20.3%
The postcode area is where the car was tested , not where its owner lives. Allowing for the age of the cars, so an area with an older fleet is not marked down for it. A fail that was fixed and passed at the station counts as an initial fail: that is DVSA’s own measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict.
Source: Autoza analysis of DVSA MOT data 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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