Whether you’ve been driving on UK roads for a while, or you’ve only recently earned your license, it’s safe to say you’ve probably had some experience with car MOTs and their importance.
An essential part of UK road safety measures, MOTs ensure that your car is both roadworthy and runs in line with expected UK vehicle emission outputs. Therefore, an annual MOT is required by law for all car owners in the UK to check that their vehicle is still legally driveable.
However, recent data suggests that as many as 30% of Brits delay booking their MOT well beyond its due date, while a further 30% rely solely on getting a reminder from their garage to book their MOT, rather than making the booking themselves ahead of time – both of which may very well result in a higher chance of your car failing when its test.
With this in mind, the team here at Garage.co.uk were keen to learn whereabouts in the UK had the highest and lowest rates of MOT failures, and what the most common reasons for said MOT failures were.
To find out, we analysed a variety of DVSA MOT failure data and produced a heat map of MOT failure rates across the UK, before speaking with an MOT expert to learn more about the typical causes behind the vast majority of unsuccessful MOT checks.
Here’s what we discovered!
Which areas in the UK have the lowest MOT pass rates?
Starting with the areas in the UK which experienced the highest percentage of MOT failures, we’ve highlighted the worst offenders for low MOT pass rates below:
1. Kirkcaldy
Taking the number one spot with a middling overall pass rate of 62.6%, we have Kirkcaldy in Scotland. Located on Scotland’s east coast, Kirkcaldy might be a picturesque destination for tourists and locals, but it’s clearly not an area known for its MOT consistency.
As for why Kirkcaldy has such a low MOT pass rate, it’s hard to say. Being a smaller town away from larger Scottish cities, it may simply be that fewer mechanics are available to handle regular MOT requirements, not to mention the distance that drivers may need to travel daily for work, which may put more strain on cars between checks.
2. Dundee
Following on from Kirkcaldy, we have Dundee, which had an ever so slightly better pass rate of 63.7%. Much like Kirkcaldy, Dundee is nestled on Scotland’s east coast, but being a city, you’d think their MOT pass rate would be a little higher.
Interestingly, however, stats suggest that Dundee has just as many, or possibly even fewer, mechanics capable of handling MOTs than in the area around Kirkcaldy, suggesting that Dundee residents likely face many of the same problems relating to organising an MOT appointment and driving their cars more often.
3. Llandrindod Wells
Lastly, to wrap out our top 3, we have Llandrindod Wells in Wales. Nestled practically in the very heart of the Welsh countryside, Llandrindod Wells managed an average MOT pass rate of 64%, which was just 0.3% better than Dundee.
Once again, much like Kirkcaldy, it seems that the likely reason for Llandrindod Well’s low pass rate is its out-of-the-way location. Being off the beaten track and well away from any large Welsh cities and towns, there’s a good chance that Llandrindod Wells residents use their cars a lot, which in turn increases the likelihood of an MOT failure.
Which other areas scored poorly?
Although our top three worst locations for MOT pass rates highlighted this as being a problem for more isolated places, this wasn’t true for all low-scoring areas. Plymouth, for example, only had a pass rate of 64.2% (putting it 5th worst overall), despite being an important UK city.
The same also appears to be true for Exeter (6th worst) and Bristol (8th worst), with both cities only getting pass rates of 64.3% and 65.6% receptively, which suggests there’s far more at play than mechanical accessibility when it comes to the reasons behind MOT failures.
Which areas in the UK have the highest MOT pass rates?
Having looked at the worst areas in the UK for MOT pass rates, let’s now look at the locations in the UK where MOT pass rates are at their highest. And as you’ll soon see, they all appear to revolve around one particular zone:
1. Bromley
Placing first on our list of the best areas in the UK for MOT pass rates, we have Bromley, an area on the South side of London. Boasting an excellent average MOT pass rate of 78.2%, Bromley is clearly a location well versed in keeping their cars in working order – but why is this?
Well, being an area located on the outskirts of the UK capital, it stands to reason that Bromley residents have ready access to numerous mechanics in the London area. Not only that, but London’s excellent public transport system likely means that Bromley residents don’t have to use their cars as often as other UK drivers.
2. Enfield
Following on right behind Bromley, we have another London suburb – Enfield – which only just missed out on the top spot by a whole 0.2%, coming in strong with a brilliant total MOT pass rate of 78%!
Much like Bromley, those living in the Enfield area likely have their pick of choice when it comes to local mechanics, as well as readily accessible public transport alternatives that may very well mean they don’t have to take their car out as often.
3. Twickenham
Finally, for the third-best UK area for MOT pass rates, we move over to the west of London and into Twickenham. The home of English rugby, Twickenham has a respectable average MOT pass rate of 77.5%, hence its high placement overall.
Once again, Twickenham likely scores so highly due to the same reasons as Enfield and Bromley, all of which suggest that London residents have a ready bias when it comes to the feasibility of sourcing a regular MOT and not having to push their cars too hard for commuting on a daily basis.
Which other areas scored well?
So, given that all of our top three best locations for MOT pass rates were based in and around the London area, was there anywhere else in the UK that landed anywhere close to the capital in terms of MOT success?
Well, as it turns out, the answer to this is no, not really. In fact, every single area in our top 10 fell somewhere within the London or Greater London region, with West London coming 4th with 77.4% and South West London placing 8th with 76.5%, all of which further highlights the potential MOT accessibility bias London has over other UK areas.
What are the most common reasons for MOT failures?
It’s clear, based on the data provided by the DVSA, that some areas of the UK are certainly worse off for MOT pass rates than others, and further data notes that, even when MOTs are failed, as many as 60% of Brits wait awhile before acting on advisory notes given post-test.
Even worse, only 18% will act on advisory notes given after an MOT when the problems become urgent – implying that, even when an issue becomes obvious and perhaps even dangerous, the majority of drivers will still not get such problems sorted.
All of this then begs the question – what are the most common reasons for UK cars to not pass their test?
Are they serious problems that may be expensive to fix (and could indicate why drivers leave it till absolutely necessary to mend) or are they little things that we all forget about until the rare occasion where they really become an issue?
Speaking with our own experts, it appears that the following are all areas that most often typically result in failed MOTs:
- Blown light and signal bulbs
- Suspension issues
- Worn brake pads
- Tyre wear
- Windscreen obstructions
- Windscreen damage
- Excess emissions
- Registration plate visibility
In other words, the areas of your car most exposed to the elements or under constant use, but also those which won’t technically prevent you from driving your car on the road (even if it may still make the act of driving dangerous in and of itself).
Tips for passing your MOT test
So, with the above reasons for common MOT failures in mind, what can you be doing as a driver to ensure you’re in the best position possible to pass your MOT the next time it rolls around?
Well, fortunately, and as we’ve already hinted at, the solution to preventing all of these issues is a rather simple one – get your car serviced regularly (either once a year or every 12,000 miles) and don’t ignore problems when you spot them.
Right now, only 24% of UK drivers get their car serviced every few years, never mind once every 12 months, so whether it’s a warning light on your dashboard, strange noises coming from your engine, or dripping liquid; whatever it is, getting it looked at as soon as possible will save you both time and money in the long run.
Book your next MOT with our team
So, there you have it; those were the best and worst areas in the UK for MOT pass rates. As we say, the best way to ensure you pass your MOT is to get it booked well in advance and to get your car serviced in the lead-up to your test – that way you can get any problems sorted pronto
And speaking of getting your car looked at, if you need to book your MOT or car service appointment, then get in touch with our team today! We’ll be more than happy to walk you through the process.
Don’t forget to check our blog out as well for other informative guides like this one!