Scotland · postcode area ZE
Shetland MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Shetland area pass 65.6% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well below the national average of 72.2% and ranking 113 of 118 areas in Britain. From 12,372 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 20.8 times per 100 failures here, ranking 2 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Shetland is 6.6 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 69.2%; the drop after adjustment is the local fleet being newer than the national mix. Cars here average 64,153 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Shetland
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 requirements28.1%
- 2.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened15.5%
- 3.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded13.8%
- 4.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake8.8%
- 5.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.3%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 6.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm6.9%
- 7.Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement6.8%
- 8.Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn6.3%
- 9.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.0%
- 10.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play5.7%
Corrosion
20.8 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Shetland 2 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 requirements23.8% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured19.8% of tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded11.9% of tests
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded11.2% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm10.0% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged7.1% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Shetland
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Shetland
Scotland
Other areas in Scotland
- Dumfries74.0% · #39
- Outer Hebrides70.9% · #76
- Kirkwall70.8% · #77
- Galashiels69.6% · #85
- Glasgow68.8% · #93
- Inverness68.7% · #96
- Kilmarnock67.7% · #107
- Motherwell66.9% · #109
- Edinburgh66.6% · #111
- Perth66.2% · #112
- Falkirk65.6% · #114
- Paisley65.4% · #115
- Aberdeen64.4% · #116
- Dundee61.4% · #117
- Kirkcaldy61.3% · #118
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Shetland?
- 65.6% of MOT tests in the Shetland postcode area (ZE) 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 69.2%. That ranks Shetland 113 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Shetland?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Shetland is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 28.1% of failed tests, followed by "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened" (15.5%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 20.8 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 2 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Shetland, 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 Shetland 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 Shetland 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