East of England · postcode area NR
Norwich MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Norwich area pass 72.4% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, about the national average of 72.2% and ranking 56 of 118 areas in Britain. From 456,465 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 11.1 times per 100 failures here, ranking 21 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Norwich is 0.1 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 70.6%; the rise after adjustment is the local fleet being older than the national mix. Cars here average 81,267 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Norwich
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 tyre seriously damaged15.0%
- 2.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened14.0%
- 3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning9.1%
- 4.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.7%
- 5.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.3%
- 6.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.3%
- 7.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc7.0%
- 8.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.8%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 9.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements6.8%
- 10.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements6.7%
Corrosion
11.1 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Norwich 21 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 requirements20.1% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged18.7% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured12.7% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.2% of tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded8.2% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.9% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Norwich
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Norwich
East of England
Other areas in East of England
- Southend-on-Sea76.7% · #13
- Luton76.5% · #15
- Hemel Hempstead75.3% · #22
- Chelmsford74.7% · #30
- Peterborough74.3% · #32
- St Albans74.0% · #36
- Stevenage73.8% · #40
- Ipswich73.1% · #46
- Colchester73.0% · #48
- Cambridge72.9% · #51
- Watford71.2% · #69
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Norwich?
- 72.4% of MOT tests in the Norwich postcode area (NR) 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 70.6%. That ranks Norwich 56 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Norwich?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Norwich is "A tyre seriously damaged", in 15.0% of failed tests, followed by "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened" (14.0%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 11.1 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 21 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Norwich, 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 Norwich 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 Norwich 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