MOT by postcode area
MOT results in Sheffield (S)
How cars did at MOT test stations in the S 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 75.5% Great Britain 72.8%
- Against cars of the same ages +3.0 pts 23rd of 118 areas
- Average age at the test 10.6 years cars aged three and over
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 6.7% Great Britain 7.3%
- Average annual mileage 6,588 miles; Great Britain 6,728
- Car MOT tests, 2025 661,784 657,043 in 2024
How do cars in Sheffield do at their MOT?
In 2025, 75.5% of the 661,784 car MOT tests at stations in the S 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 72.5% of the time, so Sheffield does 3.0 points better than its age mix would suggest, 23rd of 118 areas. In 2024 the pass rate here was 75.2%.
Pass rate by age: Sheffield vs Great Britain
Each pair of bars covers cars of the same age, so an area with older cars is compared fairly.
| Vehicle age | Sheffield | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 90.8% | 89.5% |
| 4–5 years | 89.3% | 87.6% |
| 6–7 years | 85.1% | 83.0% |
| 8–10 years | 78.4% | 75.7% |
| 11–14 years | 69.2% | 65.5% |
| 15–19 years | 62.5% | 58.0% |
| 20+ years | 65.8% | 61.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures in Sheffield
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment defects appeared on 36.1% of failed tests here (Great Britain 36.8%). The most common single defect was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (11.1% of failed tests). 47.5% 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 | 36.1% |
| Suspension | 34.1% |
| Brakes | 23.3% |
| Tyres | 21.3% |
| Visibility | 14.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 11.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.1% |
| Steering | 7.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common defects
Share of failed tests with each defect.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 11.1% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.2% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 8.0% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 7.6% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.8% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 5.9% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 5.9% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.0% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 5.0% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 4.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Cars tested most in Sheffield
The models with the most MOT tests in the S 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 | 30,608 | 67.6% |
| Ford Focus | 22,380 | 70.7% |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 20,269 | 68.2% |
| Volkswagen Golf | 18,167 | 79.7% |
| Vauxhall Astra | 14,913 | 68.7% |
| Toyota Yaris | 13,177 | 76.6% |
| Nissan Qashqai | 12,789 | 71.7% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 12,151 | 71.2% |
| BMW 3 Series | 10,034 | 79.5% |
| Audi A3 | 9,592 | 79.0% |
Areas ranked near Sheffield
By pass rate against cars of the same ages. All 118 postcode areas.
| Rank | Area | Pass rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | South East London (SE) | 75.5% | +3.4 pts |
| 21 | West London (W) | 77.6% | +3.4 pts |
| 22 | Blackburn (BB) | 76.0% | +3.3 pts |
| 23 | Sheffield (S) | 75.5% | +3.0 pts |
| 24 | Hemel Hempstead (HP) | 75.6% | +2.9 pts |
| 25 | Bradford (BD) | 74.3% | +2.7 pts |
| 26 | Coventry (CV) | 75.2% | +2.5 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 | 661,784 car MOT tests in the S area | 15 September 2026 |
- Normal MOT tests of cars aged three and over at test stations in the S 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 S area covers more than Sheffield 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.