East of England · postcode area SG
Stevenage MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Stevenage area pass 73.8% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 40 of 118 areas in Britain. From 243,292 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 117 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Stevenage is 1.6 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 74,018 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Stevenage
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.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened11.7%
- 2.A tyre seriously damaged11.4%
- 3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements9.9%
- 4.A tyre cords visible or damaged8.8%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.4%
- 6.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.7%
- 7.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.6%
- 8.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements5.5%
- 9.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.4%
- 10.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.3%
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements24.0% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged13.0% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured10.7% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.4% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.1% of tests
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened5.4% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Stevenage
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Stevenage
- Ford35,933 tests
- Volkswagen22,341 tests
- Vauxhall19,642 tests
- BMW13,879 tests
- Mercedes-Benz13,841 tests
- Audi12,420 tests
- Nissan12,301 tests
- Toyota10,499 tests
East of England
Other areas in East of England
- Southend-on-Sea76.7% · #13
- Luton76.5% · #15
- Hemel Hempstead75.3% · #22
- Chelmsford74.7% · #30
- Peterborough74.3% · #32
- St Albans74.0% · #36
- Ipswich73.1% · #46
- Colchester73.0% · #48
- Cambridge72.9% · #51
- Norwich72.4% · #56
- Watford71.2% · #69
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Stevenage?
- 73.8% of MOT tests in the Stevenage postcode area (SG) 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 74.2%. That ranks Stevenage 40 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Stevenage?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Stevenage is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", in 11.7% of failed tests, followed by "A tyre seriously damaged" (11.4%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 117 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Stevenage, 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 Stevenage 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 Stevenage 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