The MOT Files

London · postcode area UB

Southall MOT pass rate

Data updated

Quick answer

Cars tested in the Southall area pass 79.5% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 1 of 118 areas in Britain. From 204,599 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 92 of 118 for rust.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

79.5%adjusted · 79.3% raw204,599 tests · rank 1 of 118

Southall is 7.2 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 81,998 miles at test.

DVSA recorded wording

What cars fail on in Southall

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. 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements19.6%

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit explained

  2. 2.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm13.7%

    Brake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained

  3. 3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning9.7%

    Lamp not working explained

  4. 4.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.7%

    Stop lamp not working explained

  5. 5.A tyre seriously damaged7.6%

    Tyre damaged or deteriorated explained

  6. 6.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen6.5%

    Wiper or washer not working properly explained

  7. 7.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.1%

    Driveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained

  8. 8.A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED5.8%

    Headlamp not working explained

  9. 9.A tyre cords visible or damaged5.7%

    Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained

  10. 10.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened5.7%

    Road spring broken or fractured explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

How wear changes the picture

Pass rate by age in Southall

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202289%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201986%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201681%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201373%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier68%

What gets tested here

Makes most often tested in Southall

London

Other areas in London

All 118 areas ranked

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate in Southall?
79.5% of MOT tests in the Southall postcode area (UB) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is well above the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 79.3%. That ranks Southall 1 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
What do cars fail on most in Southall?
The item recorded most often on failed tests in Southall is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 19.6% of failed tests, followed by "a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm" (13.7%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 92 of 118 areas for corrosion.
Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
No. The figure describes the cars tested in Southall, 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 Southall 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 Southall 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