The MOT Files

Wales · postcode area NP

Newport MOT pass rate

Data updated

Quick answer

Cars tested in the Newport area pass 70.0% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, below the national average of 72.2% and ranking 83 of 118 areas in Britain. From 290,375 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 6.8 times per 100 failures here, ranking 53 of 118 for rust.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

70.0%adjusted · 69.0% raw290,375 tests · rank 83 of 118

Newport is 2.3 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 80,931 miles at test.

DVSA recorded wording

What cars fail on in Newport

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.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements17.2%

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit explained

  2. 2.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened13.8%

    Road spring broken or fractured explained

  3. 3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning9.0%

    Lamp not working explained

  4. 4.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.8%

    Brake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained

  5. 5.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.7%

    Suspension arm bush worn explained

  6. 6.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.9%

    Suspension arm bush worn explained

  7. 7.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.1%

    Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained

  8. 8.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen6.9%

    Wiper or washer not working properly explained

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

    Stop lamp not working explained

  10. 10.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.1%

    Driveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained

Corrosion

6.8 corrosion items per 100 failed tests

That ranks Newport 53 of 118 areas for rust. Corrosion is a meaningful share of failures here, though well short of the coastal and Scottish extremes. What structural corrosion means for the test.

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

How wear changes the picture

Pass rate by age in Newport

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202287%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201980%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201668%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201359%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier55%

What gets tested here

Makes most often tested in Newport

Wales

Other areas in Wales

All 118 areas ranked

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate in Newport?
70.0% of MOT tests in the Newport postcode area (NP) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is below the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 69.0%. That ranks Newport 83 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
What do cars fail on most in Newport?
The item recorded most often on failed tests in Newport is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 17.2% of failed tests, followed by "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened" (13.8%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 6.8 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 53 of 118 areas for corrosion.
Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
No. The figure describes the cars tested in Newport, 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 Newport 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 Newport 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