West Midlands · postcode area ST
Stoke-on-Trent MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Stoke-on-Trent area pass 70.8% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, about the national average of 72.2% and ranking 78 of 118 areas in Britain. From 369,773 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 9.2 times per 100 failures here, ranking 36 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Stoke-on-Trent is 1.4 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 74,712 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Stoke-on-Trent
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 weakened13.6%
- 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements10.6%
- 3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.5%
- 4.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.9%
- 5.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.9%
- 6.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.7%
- 7.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.0%
- 8.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.4%
- 9.A tyre cords visible or damaged6.3%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 10.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play5.9%
Corrosion
9.2 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Stoke-on-Trent 36 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 requirements24.3% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged13.6% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured13.3% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn10.0% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.1% of tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded7.0% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Stoke-on-Trent
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Stoke-on-Trent
- Ford48,232 tests
- Vauxhall32,890 tests
- Volkswagen31,746 tests
- Toyota20,110 tests
- Audi19,397 tests
- BMW18,388 tests
- Nissan17,439 tests
- Mercedes-Benz17,064 tests
West Midlands
Other areas in West Midlands
- Birmingham76.7% · #12
- Coventry75.2% · #23
- Dudley74.2% · #34
- Wolverhampton74.1% · #35
- Hereford74.0% · #38
- Worcester73.6% · #43
- Telford72.9% · #50
- Shrewsbury72.7% · #52
- Walsall72.0% · #60
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Stoke-on-Trent?
- 70.8% of MOT tests in the Stoke-on-Trent postcode area (ST) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is about the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 71.4%. That ranks Stoke-on-Trent 78 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Stoke-on-Trent?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Stoke-on-Trent is "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened", in 13.6% of failed tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (10.6%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 9.2 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 36 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Stoke-on-Trent, 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 Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent 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