London · postcode area SE
South East London MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the South East London area pass 75.5% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 20 of 118 areas in Britain. From 260,886 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 108 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
75.5%adjusted · 75.5% raw260,886 tests · rank 20 of 118
South East London is 3.2 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 72,946 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in South East 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 requirements11.4%
- 2.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning11.1%
- 3.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm10.9%
- 4.A tyre seriously damaged9.7%
- 5.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen8.9%
- 6.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.6%
- 7.A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED7.4%
- 8.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction6.8%
- 9.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.4%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 10.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc5.9%
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements18.6% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged15.0% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.9% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured8.3% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.8% of tests
- Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users5.5% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in South East London
3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202287%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201982%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201677%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201369%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier65%
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in South East London
- Ford25,371 tests
- Nissan23,393 tests
- Vauxhall22,787 tests
- Mercedes-Benz22,737 tests
- Volkswagen21,269 tests
- BMW19,395 tests
- Toyota17,191 tests
- Audi12,597 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
- North West London76.3% · #16
- South West London75.4% · #21
- West London75.2% · #24
- Bromley74.7% · #29
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in South East London?
- 75.5% of MOT tests in the South East London postcode area (SE) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is above the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 75.5%. That ranks South East London 20 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in South East London?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in South East London is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 11.4% of failed tests, followed by "A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning" (11.1%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 108 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in South East 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 South East 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 South East 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