MOT by postcode area
MOT results in Stoke-on-Trent (ST)
How cars did at MOT test stations in the ST 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 71.9% Great Britain 72.8%
- Against cars of the same ages −1.3 pts 74th of 118 areas
- Average age at the test 10.3 years cars aged three and over
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 7.7% Great Britain 7.3%
- Average annual mileage 6,715 miles; Great Britain 6,728
- Car MOT tests, 2025 321,870 320,079 in 2024
How do cars in Stoke-on-Trent do at their MOT?
In 2025, 71.9% of the 321,870 car MOT tests at stations in the ST postcode area were passed first time, against 72.8% across Great Britain. The cars tested here averaged 10.3 years old; with that mix of ages, cars across Great Britain pass 73.2% of the time, so Stoke-on-Trent does 1.3 points worse than its age mix would suggest, 74th of 118 areas. In 2024 the pass rate here was 71.4%.
Pass rate by age: Stoke-on-Trent vs Great Britain
Each pair of bars covers cars of the same age, so an area with older cars is compared fairly.
| Vehicle age | Stoke-on-Trent | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 90.1% | 89.5% |
| 4–5 years | 86.8% | 87.6% |
| 6–7 years | 81.6% | 83.0% |
| 8–10 years | 74.0% | 75.7% |
| 11–14 years | 63.8% | 65.5% |
| 15–19 years | 56.9% | 58.0% |
| 20+ years | 59.3% | 61.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures in Stoke-on-Trent
Suspension defects appeared on 39.7% of failed tests here (Great Britain 32.4%). The most common single defect was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (11.2% of failed tests). 55.3% 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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 39.7% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 32.3% |
| Brakes | 25.1% |
| Tyres | 23.0% |
| Visibility | 13.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 11.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.7% |
| Steering | 8.0% |
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 | 11.2% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 7.7% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.0% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 6.5% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension | 6.4% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 6.2% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 6.1% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.2% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 5.0% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 4.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Cars tested most in Stoke-on-Trent
The models with the most MOT tests in the ST 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 | 14,697 | 65.0% |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 11,013 | 63.8% |
| Ford Focus | 9,776 | 67.4% |
| Volkswagen Golf | 7,813 | 74.5% |
| Vauxhall Astra | 6,511 | 65.6% |
| Fiat 500 | 6,072 | 66.9% |
| Nissan Qashqai | 6,068 | 68.5% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 5,478 | 65.3% |
| Toyota Yaris | 5,211 | 74.6% |
| BMW 3 Series | 4,518 | 76.0% |
Areas ranked near Stoke-on-Trent
By pass rate against cars of the same ages. All 118 postcode areas.
| Rank | Area | Pass rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | Harrogate (HG) | 74.4% | −1.0 pts |
| 72 | Kirkwall (KW) | 72.1% | −1.1 pts |
| 73 | Carlisle (CA) | 72.8% | −1.3 pts |
| 74 | Stoke-on-Trent (ST) | 71.9% | −1.3 pts |
| 75 | Leeds (LS) | 72.1% | −1.3 pts |
| 76 | Dorchester (DT) | 67.9% | −1.5 pts |
| 77 | Gloucester (GL) | 70.0% | −1.5 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 | 321,870 car MOT tests in the ST area | 15 September 2026 |
- Normal MOT tests of cars aged three and over at test stations in the ST 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 ST area covers more than Stoke-on-Trent 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.