London · postcode area CR
Croydon MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Croydon area pass 76.9% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 11 of 118 areas in Britain. From 225,833 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 102 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
76.9%adjusted · 77.8% raw225,833 tests · rank 11 of 118
Croydon is 4.7 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 70,384 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Croydon
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 brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm12.9%
- 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements12.3%
- 3.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen9.9%
- 4.A tyre seriously damaged9.6%
- 5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning9.5%
- 6.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.8%
- 7.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.5%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 8.A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED6.3%
- 9.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc5.5%
- 10.A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc5.2%
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements18.1% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged14.0% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.9% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured9.2% of tests
- Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users5.2% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.0% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Croydon
3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202287%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201983%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201679%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201371%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier67%
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Croydon
- Ford21,579 tests
- Toyota20,683 tests
- Volkswagen18,591 tests
- Vauxhall17,292 tests
- Mercedes-Benz17,135 tests
- BMW15,314 tests
- Nissan14,864 tests
- Audi12,117 tests
London
Other areas in London
- Southall79.5% · #1
- Sutton79.1% · #2
- Ilford78.6% · #4
- Romford78.6% · #5
- Harrow78.0% · #6
- East London77.4% · #7
- Twickenham77.4% · #8
- Enfield77.3% · #9
- North London77.0% · #10
- Kingston upon Thames76.6% · #14
- North West London76.3% · #16
- South East London75.5% · #20
- South West London75.4% · #21
- West London75.2% · #24
- Bromley74.7% · #29
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Croydon?
- 76.9% of MOT tests in the Croydon postcode area (CR) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is well above the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 77.8%. That ranks Croydon 11 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Croydon?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Croydon is "a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm", in 12.9% of failed tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (12.3%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 102 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Croydon, 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 Croydon 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 Croydon 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