London · postcode area NW
North West London MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the North West London area pass 76.3% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 16 of 118 areas in Britain. From 222,605 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 106 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
North West London is 4.0 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 78.7%; the drop after adjustment is the local fleet being newer than the national mix. Cars here average 66,911 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in North West 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 requirements13.5%
- 2.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm11.0%
- 3.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen10.5%
- 4.A tyre seriously damaged9.6%
- 5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.9%
- 6.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.6%
- 7.A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED6.3%
- 8.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.3%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 9.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction5.5%
- 10.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc5.3%
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements13.9% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged11.6% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured8.3% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.6% of tests
- Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users4.7% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn4.3% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in North West London
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in North West London
- Mercedes-Benz26,198 tests
- Toyota23,621 tests
- Volkswagen20,644 tests
- BMW17,810 tests
- Ford14,804 tests
- Audi12,254 tests
- Nissan11,207 tests
- Vauxhall9,486 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
- North London77.0% · #10
- Croydon76.9% · #11
- Kingston upon Thames76.6% · #14
- 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 West London?
- 76.3% of MOT tests in the North West London postcode area (NW) 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 78.7%. That ranks North West London 16 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in North West London?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in North West London is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 13.5% of failed tests, followed by "a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm" (11.0%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 106 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in North West 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 West 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 West 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