Wales · postcode area SA
Swansea MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Swansea area pass 68.9% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, below the national average of 72.2% and ranking 91 of 118 areas in Britain. From 420,248 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 8.9 times per 100 failures here, ranking 39 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Swansea is 3.3 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 77,643 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Swansea
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 requirements19.3%
- 2.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened11.1%
- 3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.5%
- 4.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.5%
- 5.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.2%
- 6.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.0%
- 7.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc7.3%
- 8.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.2%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 9.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen6.7%
- 10.A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play6.2%
Corrosion
8.9 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Swansea 39 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 requirements27.8% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured13.6% of tests
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded12.3% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.0% of tests
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded8.8% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.8% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Swansea
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Swansea
Wales
Other areas in Wales
- Llandudno72.4% · #57
- Newport70.0% · #83
- Cardiff68.5% · #98
- Llandrindod Wells68.2% · #100
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Swansea?
- 68.9% of MOT tests in the Swansea postcode area (SA) pass once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, which is below the national average of 72.2%. The unadjusted figure is 68.7%. That ranks Swansea 91 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Swansea?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Swansea is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 19.3% of failed tests, followed by "A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened" (11.1%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 8.9 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 39 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Swansea, 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 Swansea 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 Swansea 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