Scotland · postcode area FK
Falkirk MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Falkirk area pass 65.6% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well below the national average of 72.2% and ranking 114 of 118 areas in Britain. From 143,757 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 8.2 times per 100 failures here, ranking 43 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Falkirk is 6.7 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 70.3%; the drop after adjustment is the local fleet being newer than the national mix. Cars here average 64,147 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Falkirk
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 weakened17.9%
- 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements9.2%
- 3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.2%
- 4.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.5%
- 5.Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement7.4%
- 6.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.0%
- 7.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.7%
- 8.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.3%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 9.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play6.3%
- 10.A tyre seriously damaged5.9%
Corrosion
8.2 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Falkirk 43 of 118 areas for rust. Corrosion is a meaningful share of failures here, though well short of the coastal and Scottish extremes. What structural corrosion means for the test.
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements26.9% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured20.5% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged14.0% of tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded9.7% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.6% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.5% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Falkirk
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Falkirk
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
- Paisley65.4% · #115
- Aberdeen64.4% · #116
- Dundee61.4% · #117
- Kirkcaldy61.3% · #118
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Falkirk?
- 65.6% of MOT tests in the Falkirk postcode area (FK) 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 70.3%. That ranks Falkirk 114 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Falkirk?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Falkirk is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", in 17.9% of failed tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (9.2%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 8.2 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 43 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Falkirk, 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 Falkirk 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 Falkirk 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