North East · postcode area NE
Newcastle upon Tyne MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Newcastle upon Tyne area pass 71.9% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, about the national average of 72.2% and ranking 61 of 118 areas in Britain. From 556,809 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 12.1 times per 100 failures here, ranking 16 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Newcastle upon Tyne is 0.4 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 73.2%; the drop after adjustment is the local fleet being newer than the national mix. Cars here average 71,285 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Newcastle upon Tyne
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 weakened18.7%
- 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements11.7%
- 3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.6%
- 4.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.0%
- 5.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.0%
- 6.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded8.0%
- 7.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc7.8%
- 8.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.1%
- 9.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play6.9%
- 10.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen6.9%
Corrosion
12.1 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Newcastle upon Tyne 16 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 requirements23.2% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured16.8% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged15.7% of tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded11.3% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.6% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.3% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Newcastle upon Tyne
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Newcastle upon Tyne
- Ford71,015 tests
- Vauxhall56,282 tests
- Volkswagen51,591 tests
- Nissan36,853 tests
- Audi32,408 tests
- BMW30,322 tests
- Mercedes-Benz24,049 tests
- Citroen23,093 tests
North East
Other areas in North East
- Durham72.7% · #53
- Cleveland71.3% · #67
- Darlington69.3% · #87
- Sunderland67.8% · #105
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Newcastle upon Tyne?
- 71.9% of MOT tests in the Newcastle upon Tyne postcode area (NE) 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 73.2%. That ranks Newcastle upon Tyne 61 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Newcastle upon Tyne?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Newcastle upon Tyne is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", in 18.7% of failed tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (11.7%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 12.1 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 16 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Newcastle upon Tyne, 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 Newcastle upon Tyne 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 Newcastle upon Tyne 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