London · postcode area W
West London MOT pass rate
Data updated
Quick answer
Cars tested in the West London area pass 75.2% of MOTs once results are adjusted for their age and mileage, above the national average of 72.2% and ranking 24 of 118 areas in Britain. From 89,463 tests. Corrosion items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failures here, ranking 112 of 118 for rust.
At a glance
Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage
West London is 3.0 percentage points above the national pass rate once the age and mileage of its cars are accounted for. The raw figure is 77.6%; the drop after adjustment is the local fleet being newer than the national mix. Cars here average 63,547 miles at test.
DVSA recorded wording
What cars fail on in West London
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 requirements11.5%
- 2.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen10.8%
- 3.a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm9.1%
- 4.A tyre seriously damaged9.1%
- 5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning8.0%
- 6.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning6.3%
- 7.Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction6.1%
- 8.A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED5.7%
- 9.A tyre seriously damaged5.6%
- 10.A tyre cords visible or damaged5.4%
Tyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
Warnings without a failure
Most common advisories
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements16.6% of tests
- A tyre seriously damaged16.1% of tests
- Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured10.7% of tests
- a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm8.6% of tests
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn5.5% of tests
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn5.2% of tests
How wear changes the picture
Pass rate by age in West London
What gets tested here
Makes most often tested in West London
- Volkswagen8,572 tests
- Mercedes-Benz8,225 tests
- BMW6,787 tests
- Honda5,326 tests
- Toyota5,289 tests
- Audi5,221 tests
- Ford4,763 tests
- Nissan3,812 tests
London
Other areas in London
- Southall79.5% · #1
- Sutton79.1% · #2
- 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
- Bromley74.7% · #29
Common questions
- What is the MOT pass rate in West London?
- 75.2% of MOT tests in the West London postcode area (W) 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 77.6%. That ranks West London 24 of 118 areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
- What do cars fail on most in West London?
- The item recorded most often on failed tests in West London is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", in 11.5% of failed tests, followed by "Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen" (10.8%). Corrosion-related items are recorded 0.0 times per 100 failed tests here, which ranks 112 of 118 areas for corrosion.
- Does this mean garages here are stricter or more lenient?
- No. The figure describes the cars tested in West London, 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 West London 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 West London 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