MOT by postcode area

MOT results in Newport (NP)

How cars did at MOT test stations in the NP postcode area (Wales) 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
253,746 car MOT tests in the NP area
Methodology
View methodology
  • MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 69.5% Great Britain 72.8%
  • Against cars of the same ages −3.1 pts 92nd of 118 areas
  • Average age at the test 10.6 years cars aged three and over
  • Tests finding a dangerous defect 8.9% Great Britain 7.3%
  • Average annual mileage 7,106 miles; Great Britain 6,728
  • Car MOT tests, 2025 253,746 249,936 in 2024

How do cars in Newport do at their MOT?

In 2025, 69.5% of the 253,746 car MOT tests at stations in the NP postcode area were passed first time, against 72.8% across Great Britain. The cars tested here averaged 10.6 years old; with that mix of ages, cars across Great Britain pass 72.6% of the time, so Newport does 3.1 points worse than its age mix would suggest, 92nd of 118 areas. In 2024 the pass rate here was 69.0%.

Pass rate by age: Newport 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 NP postcode area compared with Great Britain, 2025
Vehicle age NewportGreat Britain
3 years 90.1%89.5%
4–5 years 87.0%87.6%
6–7 years 82.1%83.0%
8–10 years 72.3%75.7%
11–14 years 61.1%65.5%
15–19 years 52.8%58.0%
20+ years 57.7%61.0%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Most common MOT failures in Newport

Suspension defects appeared on 37.4% of failed tests here (Great Britain 32.4%). The most common single defect was “Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm” (11.9% of failed tests). 56.5% 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 NP postcode area with a defect in each category, with Great Britain for comparison, 2025
Category Share of failed tests
Suspension 37.4%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 36.3%
Brakes 25.0%
Tyres 23.1%
Visibility 15.5%
Body, chassis, structure 11.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks 11.2%
Steering 7.7%

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 NP postcode area, 2025
Defect Share of failed tests
Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres 11.9%
Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension 10.8%
Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 8.1%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes 6.9%
Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 6.7%
Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension 6.6%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility 5.9%
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility 5.6%
Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres 5.3%
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 5.1%

Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated

Cars tested most in Newport

The models with the most MOT tests in the NP 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 NP postcode area, 2025
Model Tests here Pass rate here Great Britain
Ford Fiesta 13,331 60.9% 65.6%
Vauxhall Corsa 8,009 62.2% 64.6%
Ford Focus 7,675 64.5% 67.8%
Volkswagen Golf 7,206 71.0% 75.0%
Nissan Qashqai 5,062 66.0% 69.0%
Volkswagen Polo 4,940 63.9% 67.4%
Vauxhall Astra 4,742 61.1% 65.8%
Fiat 500 4,155 65.9% 67.8%
BMW 1 Series 4,042 72.3% 75.9%
BMW 3 Series 3,776 74.2% 75.7%

Areas ranked near Newport

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

Postcode areas ranked near Newport (NP) by age-adjusted MOT pass rate, 2025
Rank Area Pass rate Difference
89 Brighton (BN) 68.5% −2.9 pts
90 Torquay (TQ) 66.8% −2.9 pts
91 Huddersfield (HD) 71.4% −3.0 pts
92 Newport (NP) 69.5% −3.1 pts
93 Inverness (IV) 71.9% −3.2 pts
94 Darlington (DL) 70.4% −3.3 pts
95 Swansea (SA) 69.5% −3.4 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 253,746 car MOT tests in the NP area 15 September 2026
  • Normal MOT tests of cars aged three and over at test stations in the NP 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 NP area covers more than Newport 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.