East of England · postcode area HP
Hemel Hempstead MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Hemel Hempstead area pass 75.3% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 22 of 118 areas in Britain. From 321,232 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 110 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Hemel Hempstead is 3.1 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 76,014 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Hemel Hempstead
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 requirements12.6%
- 2.A tyre seriously damaged10.9%
- 3.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened9.5%
- 4.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.2%
- 5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.2%
- 6.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.9%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 7.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.3%
- 8.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn6.1%
- 9.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements5.3%
- 10.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.1%
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements20.8% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged13.1% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured11.9% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.3% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.5% of tests
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened6.1% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Hemel Hempstead
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Hemel Hempstead
- Ford36,766 tests
- Volkswagen34,417 tests
- Vauxhall23,917 tests
- BMW23,082 tests
- Mercedes-Benz20,065 tests
- Audi19,086 tests
- Toyota17,321 tests
- Nissan13,897 tests
East of England
Other areas in East of England
- Southend-on-Sea76.7% · #13
- Luton76.5% · #15
- Chelmsford74.7% · #30
- Peterborough74.3% · #32
- St Albans74.0% · #36
- Stevenage73.8% · #40
- Ipswich73.1% · #46
- Colchester73.0% · #48
- Cambridge72.9% · #51
- Norwich72.4% · #56
- Watford71.2% · #69
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Hemel Hempstead?
- 75.3% of MOT tests in the Hemel Hempstead postcode area (HP) 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 75.3%. That ranks Hemel Hempstead 22 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Hemel Hempstead?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Hemel Hempstead is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 12.6% of failed tests, followed by "A tyre seriously damaged" (10.9%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 110 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Hemel Hempstead, 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 Hemel Hempstead 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 Hemel Hempstead 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