The MOT Files

West Midlands · postcode area CV

Coventry MOT pass rate

Data updated

Quick answer

Cars tested in the Coventry area pass 75.2% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 23 of 118 areas in Britain. From 491,027 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 111 of 118 for rust.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

75.2%adjusted · 75.0% raw491,027 tests · rank 23 of 118

Coventry is 3.0 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 78,093 miles at test.

DVSA recorded wording

What cars fail on in Coventry

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. 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements12.2%

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit explained

  2. 2.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened10.8%

    Road spring broken or fractured explained

  3. 3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.1%

    Suspension arm bush worn explained

  4. 4.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.9%

    Brake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained

  5. 5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.7%

    Lamp not working explained

  6. 6.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.0%

    Wiper or washer not working properly explained

  7. 7.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.3%

    Suspension arm bush worn explained

  8. 8.A tyre seriously damaged6.9%

    Tyre damaged or deteriorated explained

  9. 9.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.6%

    Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained

  10. 10.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.4%

    Driveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

How wear changes the picture

Pass rate by age in Coventry

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202289%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201983%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201674%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201367%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier63%

What gets tested here

Makes most often tested in Coventry

West Midlands

Other areas in West Midlands

All 118 areas ranked

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate in Coventry?
75.2% of MOT tests in the Coventry postcode area (CV) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is above the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 75.0%. That ranks Coventry 23 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
What do cars fail on most in Coventry?
The item recorded most often on failed tests in Coventry is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 12.2% of failed tests, followed by "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened" (10.8%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 111 of 118 areas for corrosion.
Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
No. The figure describes the cars tested in Coventry, 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 Coventry a bad area to buy a used car from?
The area itself is not a concern. Corrosion is recorded less often on failed tests here than in coastal and northern areas, so a car from Coventry is, on the evidence, less likely to carry rust problems than one from Scotland or the West Country. The individual car's MOT history still matters far more than its postcode.

Analysis built from DVSA data of