MOT by postcode area

MOT results in Doncaster (DN)

How cars did at MOT test stations in the DN 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
379,944 car MOT tests in the DN area
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 72.7% Great Britain 72.8%
  • Against cars of the same ages −0.1 pts 57th of 118 areas
  • Average age at the test 10.5 years cars aged three and over
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 6.9% Great Britain 7.3%
  • Average annual mileage 7,226 miles; Great Britain 6,728
  • Car MOT tests, 2025 379,944 378,861 in 2024

How do cars in Doncaster do at their MOT?

In 2025, 72.7% of the 379,944 car MOT tests at stations in the DN postcode area were passed first time, against 72.8% across Great Britain. The cars tested here averaged 10.5 years old; with that mix of ages, cars across Great Britain pass 72.8% of the time, so Doncaster is about where its age mix would put it, 57th of 118 areas. In 2024 the pass rate here was 73.1%.

Pass rate by age: Doncaster 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 DN postcode area compared with Great Britain, 2025
Vehicle age DoncasterGreat Britain
3 years 91.9%89.5%
4–5 years 89.4%87.6%
6–7 years 83.9%83.0%
8–10 years 75.8%75.7%
11–14 years 64.9%65.5%
15–19 years 55.7%58.0%
20+ years 60.0%61.0%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures in Doncaster

Suspension defects appeared on 35.4% of failed tests here (Great Britain 32.4%). The most common single defect was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (11.8% of failed tests). 46.0% 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 DN postcode area with a defect in each category, with Great Britain for comparison, 2025
Category Share of failed tests
Suspension 35.4%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 33.4%
Brakes 23.8%
Tyres 21.5%
Visibility 14.2%
Body, chassis, structure 11.7%
Noise, emissions and leaks 11.2%
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 DN postcode area, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension 11.8%
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 8.1%
Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 7.7%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 6.4%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 6.0%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 5.7%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks 5.2%
Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure 5.2%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 5.1%
Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 5.0%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Cars tested most in Doncaster

The models with the most MOT tests in the DN 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 DN postcode area, 2025
Model Tests here Pass rate here Great Britain
Ford Fiesta 16,983 64.2% 65.6%
Ford Focus 12,108 67.3% 67.8%
Vauxhall Corsa 11,928 64.0% 64.6%
Vauxhall Astra 9,374 64.7% 65.8%
Volkswagen Golf 9,187 75.6% 75.0%
Nissan Qashqai 7,688 69.3% 69.0%
BMW 3 Series 6,498 75.2% 75.7%
Mercedes-Benz A-Class 5,455 78.8% 78.3%
Audi A3 5,286 74.9% 75.8%
Volkswagen Polo 5,254 68.0% 67.4%

Areas ranked near Doncaster

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

Postcode areas ranked near Doncaster (DN) by age-adjusted MOT pass rate, 2025
Rank Area Pass rate Difference
54 Canterbury (CT) 71.6% 0.0 pts
55 Norwich (NR) 71.3% 0.0 pts
56 Telford (TF) 72.1% 0.0 pts
57 Doncaster (DN) 72.7% −0.1 pts
58 Durham (DH) 73.9% −0.2 pts
59 Southampton (SO) 71.7% −0.3 pts
60 Walsall (WS) 72.3% −0.3 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 379,944 car MOT tests in the DN area 15 September 2026
  • Normal MOT tests of cars aged three and over at test stations in the DN 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 DN area covers more than Doncaster 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.