The MoT Files: Postcodes where you're most likely to pass ... and fail
Would you expect where you live to influence how likely your car is to pass its MoT?
Maybe not - but, if you think about it, it’s fairly logical. The MoT Files reveal that coastal and rural areas have the highest fail rates. This is probably because of a combination of factors, including poor roads damaging suspension, drivers covering higher miles and sea air causing cars to rust. There are probably some economic factors, too - there’s generally less wealth in rural areas, so there might be less money for spending on vital car maintenance.
The Scottish area of Kirkcaldy has the perfect storm of factors, giving it the lowest MoT pass rate in the UK. It’s next to the sea, which is tough on cars, and motorists often have to travel long distances on rural roads in poor condition.
Conversely, drivers in cities tend to cover lower miles, drive on better roads, buy newer cars and maintain them better. This is why there are lots of London districts in the top 10 areas with the highest pass rates.
Nearly three quarter of cars in Enfield pass their annual MoT test. This North London borough is well connected via public transport, meaning motorists cover fewer miles in their cars than those in the countryside. The most common failure in Enfield is for lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - relatively minor issues usually, and still below the national average for similar faults.
Pass Rate by Postcode
| Postcode Area | Name | Number of Tests | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB | Aberdeen | 249,407 | 66.2% |
| BA | Bath | 278,966 | 66.3% |
| B | Birmingham | 936,004 | 72.8% |
| BB | Blackburn | 260,303 | 72.3% |
| FY | Blackpool | 133,650 | 67.5% |
| BL | Bolton | 230,238 | 72.6% |
| BH | Bournemouth | 333,556 | 66.6% |
| BD | Bradford | 273,391 | 70.8% |
| BN | Brighton | 386,485 | 66.3% |
| BS | Bristol | 559,968 | 65.3% |
| BR | Bromley | 119,105 | 76.8% |
| CB | Cambridge | 217,551 | 70.5% |
| CT | Canterbury | 240,995 | 69.1% |
| CF | Cardiff | 505,404 | 67.4% |
| CA | Carlisle | 186,358 | 70.3% |
| CM | Chelmsford | 375,186 | 74.8% |
| CH | Chester | 348,261 | 69.5% |
| TS | Cleveland | 285,947 | 68.4% |
| CO | Colchester | 243,165 | 70.8% |
| CV | Coventry | 454,746 | 72.7% |
| CW | Crewe | 187,963 | 70.9% |
| CR | Croydon | 211,324 | 75.1% |
| DL | Darlington | 180,533 | 68.5% |
| DA | Dartford | 229,736 | 75.0% |
| DE | Derby | 419,544 | 72.5% |
| DN | Doncaster | 410,748 | 71.0% |
| DT | Dorchester | 122,446 | 65.8% |
| DY | Dudley | 213,409 | 70.0% |
| DG | Dumfries | 75,975 | 71.8% |
| DD | Dundee | 131,559 | 63.0% |
| DH | Durham | 151,112 | 71.9% |
| E | East London | 243,454 | 74.3% |
| EH | Edinburgh | 396,193 | 68.6% |
| EN | Enfield | 184,417 | 77.0% |
| EX | Exeter | 357,048 | 63.9% |
| FK | Falkirk | 139,352 | 68.7% |
| TD | Galashiels | 60,067 | 69.5% |
| G | Glasgow | 501,636 | 70.3% |
| GL | Gloucester | 392,369 | 67.3% |
| GU | Guildford | 418,579 | 70.7% |
| HX | Halifax | 79,523 | 69.2% |
| HG | Harrogate | 83,412 | 71.4% |
| HA | Harrow | 180,514 | 73.5% |
| HP | Hemel Hempstead | 299,484 | 73.3% |
| HR | Hereford | 119,956 | 70.5% |
| HD | Huddersfield | 124,964 | 69.9% |
| HU | Hull | 212,373 | 67.0% |
| IG | Ilford | 132,213 | 75.4% |
| IV | Inverness | 136,338 | 68.4% |
| IP | Ipswich | 369,958 | 69.2% |
| KA | Kilmarnock | 174,872 | 70.5% |
| KT | Kingston upon Thames | 265,455 | 75.8% |
| KY | Kirkcaldy | 179,313 | 61.3% |
| KW | Kirkwall | 26,856 | 68.8% |
| LA | Lancaster | 174,267 | 68.6% |
| LS | Leeds | 339,025 | 68.8% |
| LE | Leicester | 555,682 | 71.9% |
| ZE | Lerwick | 11,873 | 65.9% |
| LN | Lincoln | 181,919 | 67.7% |
| L | Liverpool | 334,336 | 72.5% |
| LD | Llandrindod Wells | 27,309 | 63.9% |
| LL | Llandudno | 305,849 | 70.2% |
| LU | Luton | 201,006 | 71.8% |
| M | Manchester | 450,640 | 69.9% |
| MK | Milton Keynes | 315,778 | 70.6% |
| ML | Motherwell | 162,683 | 69.9% |
| NE | Newcastle upon Tyne | 521,744 | 71.1% |
| NP | Newport | 273,825 | 67.3% |
| N | North London | 208,906 | 72.4% |
| NW | North West London | 206,082 | 75.5% |
| NN | Northampton | 402,856 | 68.3% |
| NR | Norwich | 434,939 | 69.5% |
| NG | Nottingham | 584,842 | 68.4% |
| OL | Oldham | 210,363 | 71.5% |
| HS | Outer Hebrides | 14,164 | 70.3% |
| OX | Oxford | 350,731 | 70.2% |
| PA | Paisley | 146,085 | 68.2% |
| PH | Perth | 93,479 | 67.9% |
| PE | Peterborough | 577,648 | 70.4% |
| PL | Plymouth | 328,206 | 62.0% |
| PO | Portsmouth | 453,847 | 66.6% |
| PR | Preston | 286,525 | 70.9% |
| RG | Reading | 477,530 | 72.6% |
| RH | Redhill | 320,388 | 72.9% |
| ME | Rochester | 341,466 | 71.5% |
| RM | Romford | 250,370 | 75.8% |
| SP | Salisbury | 152,927 | 66.3% |
| S | Sheffield | 705,723 | 73.1% |
| SY | Shrewsbury | 214,019 | 69.2% |
| SL | Slough | 218,123 | 75.7% |
| SE | South East London | 256,884 | 74.1% |
| SW | South West London | 158,979 | 73.3% |
| UB | Southall | 174,781 | 73.6% |
| SO | Southampton | 388,198 | 70.4% |
| SS | Southend-on-Sea | 284,886 | 75.3% |
| AL | St Albans | 138,799 | 74.4% |
| SG | Stevenage | 225,884 | 72.5% |
| SK | Stockport | 316,545 | 71.1% |
| ST | Stoke-on-Trent | 345,958 | 69.1% |
| SR | Sunderland | 106,979 | 68.7% |
| SM | Sutton | 73,140 | 74.9% |
| SA | Swansea | 399,331 | 67.4% |
| SN | Swindon | 274,871 | 69.4% |
| TA | Taunton | 202,561 | 66.3% |
| TF | Telford | 115,027 | 68.1% |
| TN | Tonbridge | 419,253 | 69.8% |
| TQ | Torquay | 163,844 | 64.4% |
| TR | Truro | 191,602 | 62.8% |
| TW | Twickenham | 229,362 | 76.1% |
| WF | Wakefield | 283,204 | 72.4% |
| WS | Walsall | 231,483 | 69.4% |
| WA | Warrington | 328,644 | 72.3% |
| WD | Watford | 132,642 | 72.2% |
| W | West London | 88,119 | 75.8% |
| WN | Wigan | 143,606 | 69.4% |
| WV | Wolverhampton | 206,764 | 70.8% |
| WR | Worcester | 183,693 | 70.7% |
| YO | York | 302,344 | 67.9% |
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