South West · postcode area DT
Dorchester MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Dorchester area pass 71.3% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, about the national average of 72.2% and ranking 66 of 118 areas in Britain. From 130,375 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 11.1 times per 100 failures here, ranking 20 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Dorchester is 0.9 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 66.8%; the rise after adjustment is the local fleet being older than the national mix. Cars here average 85,803 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Dorchester
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.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements13.6%
- 2.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning10.8%
- 3.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.2%
- 4.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements8.2%
- 5.A tyre cords visible or damaged8.1%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 6.A tyre seriously damaged7.9%
- 7.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.9%
- 8.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened7.8%
- 9.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.7%
- 10.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc7.6%
Corrosion
11.1 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Dorchester 20 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 requirements31.2% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged15.4% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured14.8% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn10.3% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm10.2% of tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded8.9% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Dorchester
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Dorchester
- Ford16,391 tests
- Volkswagen16,247 tests
- Vauxhall9,804 tests
- Nissan7,476 tests
- Peugeot7,146 tests
- Land Rover5,702 tests
- Honda5,573 tests
- Mercedes-Benz5,299 tests
South West
Other areas in South West
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Dorchester?
- 71.3% of MOT tests in the Dorchester postcode area (DT) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is about the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 66.8%. That ranks Dorchester 66 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Dorchester?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Dorchester is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 13.6% of failed tests, followed by "A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning" (10.8%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 11.1 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 20 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Dorchester, 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 Dorchester 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 Dorchester 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