MOT by postcode area
MOT results in Birmingham (B)
How cars did at MOT test stations in the B postcode area (England) in 2025: pass rates against cars of the same ages, what fails most often, how far cars here are driven and the models tested most.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 76.3% Great Britain 72.8%
- Against cars of the same ages +4.2 pts 15th of 118 areas
- Average age at the test 10.8 years cars aged three and over
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 6.1% Great Britain 7.3%
- Average annual mileage 6,896 miles; Great Britain 6,728
- Car MOT tests, 2025 936,917 923,557 in 2024
How do cars in Birmingham do at their MOT?
In 2025, 76.3% of the 936,917 car MOT tests at stations in the B postcode area were passed first time, against 72.8% across Great Britain. The cars tested here averaged 10.8 years old; with that mix of ages, cars across Great Britain pass 72.1% of the time, so Birmingham does 4.2 points better than its age mix would suggest, 15th of 118 areas. In 2024 the pass rate here was 75.0%.
Pass rate by age: Birmingham vs Great Britain
Each pair of bars covers cars of the same age, so an area with older cars is compared fairly.
| Vehicle age | Birmingham | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 89.3% | 89.5% |
| 4–5 years | 88.1% | 87.6% |
| 6–7 years | 84.9% | 83.0% |
| 8–10 years | 79.3% | 75.7% |
| 11–14 years | 71.3% | 65.5% |
| 15–19 years | 65.1% | 58.0% |
| 20+ years | 66.9% | 61.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures in Birmingham
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment defects appeared on 38.6% of failed tests here (Great Britain 36.8%). The most common single defect was “Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm” (8.3% of failed tests). 51.9% of tests ended with at least one advisory (Great Britain 51.9%).
Failure categories
The marker shows the share across Great Britain.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 38.6% |
| Suspension | 27.3% |
| Tyres | 21.1% |
| Brakes | 18.2% |
| Visibility | 18.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.2% |
| Steering | 5.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common defects
Share of failed tests with each defect.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 8.3% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.3% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.3% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 7.2% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 6.8% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 6.6% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 6.4% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.9% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.0% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 4.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Cars tested most in Birmingham
The models with the most MOT tests in the B postcode area in 2025, and how often they passed first time here and across Great Britain. A model’s pass rate depends on the ages of the cars tested, which differ between areas.
| Model | Tests here | Pass rate here |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta | 47,510 | 68.5% |
| Ford Focus | 31,633 | 71.1% |
| Volkswagen Golf | 27,809 | 79.1% |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 27,599 | 67.6% |
| Toyota Yaris | 19,595 | 75.4% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 19,234 | 72.3% |
| Vauxhall Astra | 18,822 | 70.2% |
| Nissan Qashqai | 18,465 | 72.9% |
| BMW 3 Series | 17,980 | 80.3% |
| Audi A3 | 15,744 | 80.0% |
Areas ranked near Birmingham
By pass rate against cars of the same ages. All 118 postcode areas.
| Rank | Area | Pass rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | East London (E) | 77.5% | +4.6 pts |
| 13 | Southend-on-Sea (SS) | 77.0% | +4.6 pts |
| 14 | Bromley (BR) | 79.5% | +4.3 pts |
| 15 | Birmingham (B) | 76.3% | +4.2 pts |
| 16 | Dartford (DA) | 77.7% | +4.1 pts |
| 17 | North West London (NW) | 78.7% | +3.9 pts |
| 18 | Luton (LU) | 75.0% | +3.7 pts |
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT results | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 936,917 car MOT tests in the B area | 15 September 2026 |
- Normal MOT tests of cars aged three and over at test stations in the B postcode area in 2025; retests are excluded.
- The area is where the test station is, not where the car is kept. Most people use a station near home or work, but not all.
- Postcode area names are Royal Mail’s. The B area covers more than Birmingham itself.
- Same ages: what all cars in Great Britain would score with this area’s mix of ages, in seven age bands.
- Annual mileage comes from consecutive MOT odometer readings of the same car, 300 to 430 days apart.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.