London · postcode area N
North London MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the North London area pass 77.0% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 10 of 118 areas in Britain. From 224,138 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 101 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
77.0%adjusted · 76.9% raw224,138 tests · rank 10 of 118
North London is 4.8 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 78,201 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in North London
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.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements14.2%
- 2.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm13.5%
- 3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning10.5%
- 4.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen10.1%
- 5.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.1%
- 6.A tyre seriously damaged7.5%
- 7.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn6.6%
- 8.A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED6.3%
- 9.A tyre seriously damaged6.3%
- 10.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.3%
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements16.4% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged12.6% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured8.9% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.9% of tests
- Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users6.9% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.6% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in North London
3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202288%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201984%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201679%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201371%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier65%
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in North London
- Volkswagen23,615 tests
- Mercedes-Benz21,691 tests
- Ford19,711 tests
- Toyota19,369 tests
- BMW16,601 tests
- Audi15,039 tests
- Nissan14,266 tests
- Vauxhall13,779 tests
London
Other areas in London
- Southall79.5% · #1
- Sutton79.1% · #2
- Ilford78.6% · #4
- Romford78.6% · #5
- Harrow78.0% · #6
- East London77.4% · #7
- Twickenham77.4% · #8
- Enfield77.3% · #9
- Croydon76.9% · #11
- Kingston upon Thames76.6% · #14
- North West London76.3% · #16
- South East London75.5% · #20
- South West London75.4% · #21
- West London75.2% · #24
- Bromley74.7% · #29
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in North London?
- 77.0% of MOT tests in the North London postcode area (N) 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 76.9%. That ranks North London 10 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in North London?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in North London is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 14.2% of failed tests, followed by "a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm" (13.5%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 101 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in North London, 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 North London 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 North London 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