South West · postcode area SN
Swindon MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the Swindon area pass 71.8% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, about the national average of 72.2% and ranking 62 of 118 areas in Britain. From 296,008 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 5.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 68 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
Swindon is 0.4 percentage points below the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. Cars here average 78,822 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in Swindon
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 requirements12.5%
- 2.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning9.5%
- 3.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened8.3%
- 4.A tyre seriously damaged8.1%
- 5.A tyre cords visible or damaged7.7%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
- 6.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm7.6%
- 7.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.4%
- 8.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn7.1%
- 9.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn6.8%
- 10.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements6.8%
Corrosion
5.0 corrosion items per 100 failed tests
That ranks Swindon 68 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 requirements25.7% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged12.1% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured10.8% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.4% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.3% of tests
- Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users5.9% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in Swindon
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in Swindon
- Ford36,196 tests
- Volkswagen27,855 tests
- Vauxhall22,342 tests
- BMW18,930 tests
- Nissan14,495 tests
- Audi14,360 tests
- Mercedes-Benz14,297 tests
- Peugeot13,254 tests
South West
Other areas in South West
- Dorchester71.3% · #66
- Gloucester71.1% · #70
- Taunton70.9% · #75
- Bournemouth69.3% · #88
- Torquay69.0% · #90
- Bath68.9% · #92
- Salisbury68.6% · #97
- Truro68.2% · #99
- Plymouth68.0% · #103
- Exeter67.7% · #106
- Bristol66.7% · #110
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in Swindon?
- 71.8% of MOT tests in the Swindon postcode area (SN) 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 70.9%. That ranks Swindon 62 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in Swindon?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in Swindon is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 12.5% of failed tests, followed by "A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning" (9.5%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 5.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 68 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in Swindon, 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 Swindon 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 Swindon 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