MOT by postcode area
MOT results in North London (N)
How cars did at MOT test stations in the N 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 76.8% Great Britain 72.8%
- Against cars of the same ages +4.8 pts 11th of 118 areas
- Average age at the test 11.1 years cars aged three and over
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 5.9% Great Britain 7.3%
- Average annual mileage 5,684 miles; Great Britain 6,728
- Car MOT tests, 2025 198,477 194,068 in 2024
How do cars in North London do at their MOT?
In 2025, 76.8% of the 198,477 car MOT tests at stations in the N postcode area were passed first time, against 72.8% across Great Britain. The cars tested here averaged 11.1 years old; with that mix of ages, cars across Great Britain pass 72.0% of the time, so North London does 4.8 points better than its age mix would suggest, 11th of 118 areas. In 2024 the pass rate here was 76.1%.
Pass rate by age: North London vs Great Britain
Each pair of bars covers cars of the same age, so an area with older cars is compared fairly.
| Vehicle age | North London | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 90.4% | 89.5% |
| 4–5 years | 89.2% | 87.6% |
| 6–7 years | 85.7% | 83.0% |
| 8–10 years | 80.6% | 75.7% |
| 11–14 years | 72.4% | 65.5% |
| 15–19 years | 65.2% | 58.0% |
| 20+ years | 64.8% | 61.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures in North London
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment defects appeared on 44.8% of failed tests here (Great Britain 36.8%). The most common single defect was “Position lamp: not working” (10.6% of failed tests). 46.4% 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 | 44.8% |
| Tyres | 23.0% |
| Visibility | 19.9% |
| Suspension | 18.5% |
| Brakes | 15.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 12.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.8% |
| Steering | 3.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common defects
Share of failed tests with each defect.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.6% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.6% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.1% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 8.2% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.7% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 7.6% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 7.2% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 7.0% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.0% |
| Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Cars tested most in North London
The models with the most MOT tests in the N 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf | 7,596 | 76.3% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 6,348 | 69.5% |
| Ford Fiesta | 5,312 | 68.1% |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 5,215 | 79.8% |
| Ford Focus | 5,126 | 69.1% |
| Nissan Qashqai | 5,082 | 72.3% |
| Toyota Prius | 4,898 | 77.0% |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 4,378 | 66.6% |
| BMW 3 Series | 4,190 | 80.0% |
| Toyota Yaris | 4,180 | 72.2% |
Areas ranked near North London
By pass rate against cars of the same ages. All 118 postcode areas.
| Rank | Area | Pass rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Enfield (EN) | 78.5% | +5.2 pts |
| 9 | Twickenham (TW) | 78.6% | +5.2 pts |
| 10 | Croydon (CR) | 77.8% | +4.8 pts |
| 11 | North London (N) | 76.8% | +4.8 pts |
| 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 |
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 | 198,477 car MOT tests in the N area | 15 September 2026 |
- Normal MOT tests of cars aged three and over at test stations in the N 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 N area covers more than North London 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.