MOT by postcode area

MOT results in Blackpool (FY)

How cars did at MOT test stations in the FY 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.

Last updated
Records analysed
125,052 car MOT tests in the FY area
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 68.5% Great Britain 72.8%
  • Against cars of the same ages −4.1 pts 98th of 118 areas
  • Average age at the test 10.7 years cars aged three and over
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 10.3% Great Britain 7.3%
  • Average annual mileage 6,034 miles; Great Britain 6,728
  • Car MOT tests, 2025 125,052 124,384 in 2024

How do cars in Blackpool do at their MOT?

In 2025, 68.5% of the 125,052 car MOT tests at stations in the FY postcode area were passed first time, against 72.8% across Great Britain. The cars tested here averaged 10.7 years old; with that mix of ages, cars across Great Britain pass 72.6% of the time, so Blackpool does 4.1 points worse than its age mix would suggest, 98th of 118 areas. In 2024 the pass rate here was 69.5%.

Pass rate by age: Blackpool vs Great Britain

Each pair of bars covers cars of the same age, so an area with older cars is compared fairly.

MOT first-time pass rate by vehicle age in the FY postcode area compared with Great Britain, 2025
Vehicle age BlackpoolGreat Britain
3 years 90.6%89.5%
4–5 years 86.9%87.6%
6–7 years 81.0%83.0%
8–10 years 71.8%75.7%
11–14 years 59.5%65.5%
15–19 years 51.0%58.0%
20+ years 55.6%61.0%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures in Blackpool

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment defects appeared on 37.5% of failed tests here (Great Britain 36.8%). The most common single defect was “Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm” (10.6% of failed tests). 51.1% of tests ended with at least one advisory (Great Britain 51.9%).

Failure categories

The marker shows the share across Great Britain.

Share of failed car MOT tests in the FY postcode area with a defect in each category, with Great Britain for comparison, 2025
Category Share of failed tests
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 37.5%
Suspension 32.6%
Tyres 26.8%
Brakes 26.5%
Visibility 18.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks 12.7%
Body, chassis, structure 12.5%
Steering 7.6%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common defects

Share of failed tests with each defect.

Most common specific MOT defects on failed car tests in the FY postcode area, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 10.6%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 8.6%
Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 8.2%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 7.7%
Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension 7.7%
Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 6.6%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 6.0%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks 6.0%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility 5.8%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 5.5%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Cars tested most in Blackpool

The models with the most MOT tests in the FY 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.

Models with the most MOT tests in the FY postcode area, 2025
Model Tests here Pass rate here Great Britain
Ford Fiesta 5,547 59.6% 65.6%
Vauxhall Corsa 3,770 59.8% 64.6%
Ford Focus 3,643 60.4% 67.8%
Nissan Qashqai 2,485 61.0% 69.0%
Volkswagen Golf 2,337 72.6% 75.0%
Toyota Yaris 2,231 75.6% 73.1%
Vauxhall Astra 2,228 59.9% 65.8%
BMW 3 Series 2,203 70.8% 75.7%
Fiat 500 2,203 61.9% 67.8%
Volkswagen Polo 2,085 67.5% 67.4%

Areas ranked near Blackpool

By pass rate against cars of the same ages. All 118 postcode areas.

Postcode areas ranked near Blackpool (FY) by age-adjusted MOT pass rate, 2025
Rank Area Pass rate Difference
95 Swansea (SA) 69.5% −3.4 pts
96 Bath (BA) 67.7% −3.6 pts
97 Hull (HU) 69.5% −3.9 pts
98 Blackpool (FY) 68.5% −4.1 pts
99 Glasgow (G) 72.4% −4.1 pts
100 Truro (TR) 66.5% −4.1 pts
101 Cardiff (CF) 69.1% −4.1 pts

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
MOT results Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Derived statistics UK Motoring
2025 125,052 car MOT tests in the FY area 15 September 2026
  • Normal MOT tests of cars aged three and over at test stations in the FY 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 FY area covers more than Blackpool 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.