London · postcode area HA
Harrow MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Harrow area pass 78.0% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 6 of 118 areas in Britain. From 200,040 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 97 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
78.0%adjusted · 78.5% raw200,040 tests · rank 6 of 118
Harrow is 5.8 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 76,387 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Harrow
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 requirements14.2%
- 2.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm12.4%
- 3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning9.8%
- 4.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.9%
- 5.A tyre seriously damaged8.1%
- 6.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.6%
- 7.A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED6.4%
- 8.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc5.8%
- 9.A tyre cords visible or damaged5.7%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 10.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction5.6%
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements13.1% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged11.3% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured7.4% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm6.9% 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 worn4.6% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Harrow
3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202289%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201984%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201680%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201373%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier67%
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Harrow
- Toyota22,187 tests
- Mercedes-Benz19,313 tests
- Volkswagen18,225 tests
- Ford16,841 tests
- BMW15,724 tests
- Vauxhall13,506 tests
- Nissan12,573 tests
- Honda11,137 tests
London
Other areas in London
- Southall79.5% · #1
- Sutton79.1% · #2
- Ilford78.6% · #4
- Romford78.6% · #5
- East London77.4% · #7
- Twickenham77.4% · #8
- Enfield77.3% · #9
- North London77.0% · #10
- Croydon76.9% · #11
- 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 Harrow?
- 78.0% of MOT tests in the Harrow postcode area (HA) 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 78.5%. That ranks Harrow 6 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Harrow?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Harrow is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 14.2% of failed tests, followed by "a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm" (12.4%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 97 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Harrow, 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 Harrow 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 Harrow 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