Scotland · postcode area KY
Kirkcaldy MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Kirkcaldy area pass 61.3% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well below the national average of 72.2% and ranking 118 of 118 areas in Britain. From 186,858 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 13.7 times per 100 failures here, ranking 7 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Kirkcaldy is 10.9 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 63.8%; the drop after adjustment is the local fleet being newer than the national mix. Cars here average 69,687 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Kirkcaldy
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 weakened17.1%
- 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements10.7%
- 3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.2%
- 4.Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement8.1%
- 5.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.0%
- 6.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded7.9%
- 7.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc7.7%
- 8.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.6%
- 9.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play7.6%
- 10.A tyre seriously damaged7.2%
Corrosion
13.7 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Kirkcaldy 7 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 requirements24.6% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured18.1% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged15.8% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn11.5% of tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded10.6% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.0% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Kirkcaldy
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Kirkcaldy
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
- Falkirk65.6% · #114
- Paisley65.4% · #115
- Aberdeen64.4% · #116
- Dundee61.4% · #117
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Kirkcaldy?
- 61.3% of MOT tests in the Kirkcaldy postcode area (KY) 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 63.8%. That ranks Kirkcaldy 118 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Kirkcaldy?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Kirkcaldy is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", in 17.1% of failed tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (10.7%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 13.7 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 7 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Kirkcaldy, 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 Kirkcaldy 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 Kirkcaldy 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