Scotland · postcode area AB
Aberdeen MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Aberdeen area pass 64.4% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well below the national average of 72.2% and ranking 116 of 118 areas in Britain. From 254,259 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 13.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 13 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Aberdeen is 7.8 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 68.0%; the drop after adjustment is the local fleet being newer than the national mix. Cars here average 64,958 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Aberdeen
Share of failed tests in the area that recorded each item. One failed test often lists several, so these do not sum to 100%.
- 1.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened18.6%
- 2.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded9.3%
- 3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements8.8%
- 4.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.4%
- 5.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.5%
- 6.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.1%
- 7.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm6.7%
- 8.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play6.7%
- 9.Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement6.6%
- 10.A tyre seriously damaged5.9%
Corrosion
13.0 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Aberdeen 13 of 118 areas for rust. Brake pipes, suspension mountings and structural metal corrode faster here than almost anywhere in Britain — salt, sea air and wet roads. A used car from this area should be inspected underneath before purchase. What structural corrosion means for the test.
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements21.8% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured21.3% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged15.9% of tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded11.0% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn10.4% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.8% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Aberdeen
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Aberdeen
- Ford32,513 tests
- Volkswagen29,261 tests
- Vauxhall23,416 tests
- Audi17,668 tests
- BMW13,544 tests
- Mercedes-Benz9,584 tests
- Land Rover9,246 tests
- Nissan9,185 tests
Scotland
Other areas in Scotland
- Dumfries74.0% · #39
- Outer Hebrides70.9% · #76
- Kirkwall70.8% · #77
- Galashiels69.6% · #85
- Glasgow68.8% · #93
- Inverness68.7% · #96
- Kilmarnock67.7% · #107
- Motherwell66.9% · #109
- Edinburgh66.6% · #111
- Perth66.2% · #112
- Shetland65.6% · #113
- Falkirk65.6% · #114
- Paisley65.4% · #115
- Dundee61.4% · #117
- Kirkcaldy61.3% · #118
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Aberdeen?
- 64.4% of MOT tests in the Aberdeen postcode area (AB) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is well below the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 68.0%. That ranks Aberdeen 116 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Aberdeen?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Aberdeen is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", in 18.6% of failed tests, followed by "Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded" (9.3%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 13.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 13 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Aberdeen, not the testers. Every MOT station applies the same inspection manual, and DVSA monitors testing standards nationally. A regional difference reflects the local fleet and local conditions — roads, weather, salt, how far cars are driven — rather than how hard the test is.
- Is Aberdeen a bad area to buy a used car from?
- Not necessarily, but check underneath. Corrosion is recorded far more often on failed tests here than the national norm, so a car that has spent its life in Aberdeen deserves a proper look at brake pipes, suspension mountings and sills before purchase. The MOT history will show whether corrosion advisories have been building up.
Analysis built from DVSA data of