Britain’s top 10 MOT fail hotspots – and the locations with the best pass rates
For the first time in three years, MOT records have been released. And they show a consistent trend for the worst failure rates
MOTORISTS in Essex and London are most likely to have their vehicles pass their MOT the first time, new research has found.
An investigation into MOT records across the UK has identified the best and worst regions for passing the road worthiness test, and has shown an interesting trend.
Conducted by HonestJohn.co.uk, the research revealed that Kirkcaldy on Scotland's east coast had the worst failure rate in all of Britain, with just 53.4 per cent of vehicles passing their MOT on the first attempt.
Dundee in the east of Scotland also had the same poor pass rate, while Plymouth was only marginally better with 54.2 per cent.
Other nearby regions in the southwest of England including Truro, Exeter and Torquay also showed very low pass rates.
On the opposite end of the scale, the Essex town of Romford proved to be the most successful region for MOT testing, with 72.7 per cent of vehicles passing the first tome around.
The rest of the list was dominated by London regions, with just Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea and Slough the only areas the opposite side of the M25 to the capital.
Experts are claiming that the reason for the regions with similar performance rates being geographically close together is due to the average annual mileage for that area, and their level of isolation.
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MOST COMMON REASONS FOR MOT FAILURE: The fixes you can try yourself
- Lamps and Electrical faults - Fixing most lamp, headlight or brake light outages is often as simple as replacing the bulb. Leave wiring issues to a trained mechanic.
- Brakes - Consult your mechanic if you think you have an issue.
- Suspension - Like your brakes, this should be left to a mechanic.
- Driver's view of the road - New windscreen wiper blades can be purchased from any auto shop. On most vehicles they simply slide out of the wiper casing.
- Tyres - Use the 20p test to check your tyre depth is legal.
- Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions - Another mechanic-only job.
- Steering - Take it into the garage unless you want your car to only drive around in circles.
- Seatbelts - Repairing broken seatbelts can be as simple as lubricating the belt's retracting mechanism. Consult your car manual to see how to remove the belt's casing, and lubricate all moving parts.
- Body Structure - Simple dings and dents can be popped out using hot water and a plunger. For most other damage, it is best to visit a panel beater.
- Reg Plates - Move your plate so that it is not obstructed in any way. Make sure they are clear of dirt and grim, and can be read easily.
- Road Wheels - Changing a road wheel is as simple as loosening the bolts slightly, jacking the car up and unscrewing it properly. Make sure you put your spare tyre under the car to protect you if your jack fails.
Daniel Powell, Managing Editor of HonestJohn.co.uk said: “While the research may initially suggest that if you want to pass your MoT first time, you should jump in your car and drive it to Romford, there are other factors at play here.
“Drivers in and around London, for example, generally cover a much lower mileage leaving less likelihood of wear and tear, while household incomes are often higher, meaning many people own newer cars.
“In less wealthy areas, some aspects of car maintenance can often be overlooked, whilst in more remote parts of the country the mileage covered between MoT tests is often much greater.”
The research also revealed the top five causes for failing an MOT in the first three years, and the vehicles most likely not to pass.
