The MOT Files

London · postcode area IG

Ilford MOT pass rate

Data updated

Quick answer

Cars tested in the Ilford area pass 78.6% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 4 of 118 areas in Britain. From 145,798 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 95 of 118 for rust.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

78.6%adjusted · 80.0% raw145,798 tests · rank 4 of 118

Ilford is 6.4 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 80.0%; the drop after adjustment is the local fleet being newer than the national mix. Cars here average 73,392 miles at test.

DVSA recorded wording

What cars fail on in Ilford

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. 1.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm11.7%

    Brake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained

  2. 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements10.8%

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit explained

  3. 3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.6%

    Lamp not working explained

  4. 4.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.1%

    Wiper or washer not working properly explained

  5. 5.A tyre seriously damaged8.0%

    Tyre damaged or deteriorated explained

  6. 6.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.8%

    Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained

  7. 7.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning6.7%

    Stop lamp not working explained

  8. 8.A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.1%

    Suspension joint dust cover missing or split explained

  9. 9.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction6.1%

    Engine management light on, or not working explained

  10. 10.A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage6.1%

    Shock absorber defective explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

How wear changes the picture

Pass rate by age in Ilford

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202290%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201985%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201681%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201373%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier67%

What gets tested here

Makes most often tested in Ilford

London

Other areas in London

All 118 areas ranked

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate in Ilford?
78.6% of MOT tests in the Ilford postcode area (IG) 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 80.0%. That ranks Ilford 4 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
What do cars fail on most in Ilford?
The item recorded most often on failed tests in Ilford is "a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm", in 11.7% of failed tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (10.8%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 95 of 118 areas for corrosion.
Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
No. The figure describes the cars tested in Ilford, 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 Ilford 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 Ilford 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