South East · postcode area OX
Oxford MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Oxford area pass 73.0% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, about the national average of 72.2% and ranking 49 of 118 areas in Britain. From 372,106 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 2.3 times per 100 failures here, ranking 87 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Oxford is 0.8 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 80,312 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Oxford
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 requirements11.2%
- 2.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened9.5%
- 3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning9.3%
- 4.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.0%
- 5.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.8%
- 6.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.7%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 7.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.6%
- 8.A tyre seriously damaged7.4%
- 9.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn6.6%
- 10.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements6.2%
Corrosion
2.3 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Oxford 87 of 118 areas for rust. Corrosion is a minor factor in this area's failures, as it is across most of urban England. What structural corrosion means for the test.
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements26.0% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged14.6% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured12.6% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.9% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.9% of tests
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened7.9% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Oxford
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Oxford
- Ford46,623 tests
- Volkswagen44,896 tests
- Vauxhall27,949 tests
- BMW20,408 tests
- Audi18,699 tests
- Nissan18,091 tests
- Toyota17,470 tests
- Mercedes-Benz17,374 tests
South East
Other areas in South East
- Slough78.8% · #3
- Dartford76.2% · #17
- Medway74.8% · #27
- Reading74.7% · #31
- Milton Keynes74.3% · #33
- Redhill74.0% · #37
- Tonbridge72.7% · #55
- Canterbury72.2% · #58
- Guildford72.1% · #59
- Southampton71.8% · #63
- Portsmouth68.8% · #94
- Brighton68.0% · #104
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Oxford?
- 73.0% of MOT tests in the Oxford postcode area (OX) 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 72.0%. That ranks Oxford 49 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Oxford?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Oxford is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 11.2% of failed tests, followed by "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened" (9.5%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 2.3 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 87 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Oxford, 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 Oxford 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 Oxford 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