South West · postcode area PL
Plymouth MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Plymouth area pass 68.0% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well below the national average of 72.2% and ranking 103 of 118 areas in Britain. From 339,449 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 9.5 times per 100 failures here, ranking 35 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Plymouth is 4.2 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 64.7%; the rise after adjustment is the local fleet being older than the national mix. Cars here average 84,307 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Plymouth
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 requirements16.8%
- 2.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning10.7%
- 3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn10.2%
- 4.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.8%
- 5.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.1%
- 6.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc7.6%
- 7.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.4%
- 8.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements7.3%
- 9.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning6.8%
- 10.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened6.2%
Corrosion
9.5 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Plymouth 35 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
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements29.3% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured12.0% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged11.8% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.8% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.6% of tests
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded8.3% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Plymouth
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Plymouth
South West
Other areas in South West
- Swindon71.8% · #62
- Dorchester71.3% · #66
- Gloucester71.1% · #70
- Taunton70.9% · #75
- Bournemouth69.3% · #88
- Torquay69.0% · #90
- Bath68.9% · #92
- Salisbury68.6% · #97
- Truro68.2% · #99
- Exeter67.7% · #106
- Bristol66.7% · #110
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Plymouth?
- 68.0% of MOT tests in the Plymouth postcode area (PL) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is well below the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 64.7%. That ranks Plymouth 103 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Plymouth?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Plymouth is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 16.8% of failed tests, followed by "A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning" (10.7%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 9.5 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 35 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Plymouth, 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth 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