London · postcode area SM
Sutton MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Sutton area pass 79.1% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, well above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 2 of 118 areas in Britain. From 74,601 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 93 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
79.1%adjusted · 79.0% raw74,601 tests · rank 2 of 118
Sutton is 6.8 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 69,152 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Sutton
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 brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm14.1%
- 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements12.7%
- 3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.7%
- 4.A tyre seriously damaged7.9%
- 5.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.7%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 6.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.6%
- 7.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning7.5%
- 8.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.0%
- 9.A tyre seriously damaged6.0%
- 10.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.5%
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements16.5% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged12.8% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm10.0% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured9.1% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.1% of tests
- Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users4.7% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Sutton
3–5 yrsreg. 2020–202289%
6–8 yrsreg. 2017–201984%
9–11 yrsreg. 2014–201680%
12–14 yrsreg. 2011–201374%
15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier71%
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Sutton
- Ford9,271 tests
- Volkswagen6,231 tests
- Vauxhall6,049 tests
- Toyota5,252 tests
- Nissan5,117 tests
- Mercedes-Benz5,026 tests
- BMW4,274 tests
- Audi3,526 tests
London
Other areas in London
- Southall79.5% · #1
- 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 East London75.5% · #20
- South West London75.4% · #21
- West London75.2% · #24
- Bromley74.7% · #29
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Sutton?
- 79.1% of MOT tests in the Sutton postcode area (SM) 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 79.0%. That ranks Sutton 2 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Sutton?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Sutton is "a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm", in 14.1% of failed tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (12.7%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 93 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Sutton, 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 Sutton 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 Sutton 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