Scotland · postcode area KW
Kirkwall MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Kirkwall area pass 70.8% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, about the national average of 72.2% and ranking 77 of 118 areas in Britain. From 27,960 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 20.6 times per 100 failures here, ranking 3 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Kirkwall is 1.4 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 73,481 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Kirkwall
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 weakened22.0%
- 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements16.3%
- 3.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded13.6%
- 4.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake8.7%
- 5.Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement7.7%
- 6.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.5%
- 7.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen6.8%
- 8.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.8%
- 9.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.6%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 10.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play6.4%
Corrosion
20.6 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Kirkwall 3 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 requirements21.3% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured19.1% of tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded14.7% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged9.2% of tests
- A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded8.5% of tests
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded6.6% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Kirkwall
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Kirkwall
Scotland
Other areas in Scotland
- Dumfries74.0% · #39
- Outer Hebrides70.9% · #76
- 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
- Kirkcaldy61.3% · #118
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Kirkwall?
- 70.8% of MOT tests in the Kirkwall postcode area (KW) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is about the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 71.2%. That ranks Kirkwall 77 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Kirkwall?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Kirkwall is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", in 22.0% of failed tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (16.3%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 20.6 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 3 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Kirkwall, 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 Kirkwall 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 Kirkwall 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