MOT pass rates in Dumfries

77,778 cars took a first MOT at test centres in the DG postcode area in 2025. The DG postcode area covers Dumfries and the towns around it — Stranraer, Annan and Castle Douglas among them. How the cars did, what they failed on, and what the area drives — computed from the official DVSA record. Figures describe tests done in this area, wherever the cars live.

Pass rate 2025
74.4%
2.1 points above the class-4 average (72.3%); reflects the mix of cars tested here
Tests analysed
77,778
first tests, 2025
Average car age at test
10.4 yrs
national average 10.7 yrs
Arrived with a dangerous fault
6.8%
of DG-area first tests; national 7.3%

How Dumfries compares

Ranks and comparisons cover the 116 postcode areas with 20,000 or more first tests in 2025 — the full field at that floor; DVSA merges its smallest areas into one shared code, which is excluded. Location is always the test centre's postcode area, not where any car is kept. Ranks are unadjusted for the age and mix of each area's fleet — they say where an area sits, not why. Areas are often separated by a fraction of a year or a fraction of a point: each rank is exact on the data, but neighbouring ranks can be effectively level.

Pass rate rank
#31 highest
74.4% of first tests passed, of the 116 areas
Fleet age
#77 oldest
average 10.4 yrs at test, of the 116 areas
Electric share
#115 highest
0.9% of first tests were electric cars, of the 116 areas
Tests done
#112 busiest
77,778 first tests in 2025, of the 116 areas

The area's signature make

Of the twelve most-tested makes at DG-area test centres, Renault is the one tested furthest above its national share: 5.0% of DG-area first tests against 2.9% of tests nationally — 1.7 times its national rate. That is a fact about what the area drives, not a claim about the make.

Dumfries and its neighbours

Dumfries and four neighbouring postcode areas, 2025. Pass rates are unadjusted for fleet age and mix.

AreaFirst tests Pass rateAvg ageElectric
DG (Dumfries)77,77874.4%10.4 yrs0.9%
CA (Carlisle)198,01271.9%10.1 yrs1.2%
KA (Kilmarnock)178,07670.8%9.2 yrs1.7%
ML (Motherwell)164,97070.8%8.7 yrs1.7%
TD (Galashiels)63,58771.1%9.9 yrs1.1%

Pass rate by car age — DG area vs national

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, 2025.

Dumfries (DG) areaAll of Britain
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)DG area, vehicle age 3: 91.4%DG area, vehicle age 4: 89.8%DG area, vehicle age 5: 88.5%DG area, vehicle age 6: 86.5%DG area, vehicle age 7: 82.3%DG area, vehicle age 8: 80%DG area, vehicle age 9: 75.8%DG area, vehicle age 10: 71.5%DG area, vehicle age 11: 70.7%DG area, vehicle age 12: 67%DG area, vehicle age 13: 65%DG area, vehicle age 14: 62.6%DG area, vehicle age 15: 60.9%DG area, vehicle age 16: 58.3%DG area, vehicle age 17: 58.4%DG area, vehicle age 18: 57.2%DG area, vehicle age 19: 59%DG area, vehicle age 20: 58.9%All of Britain, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All of Britain, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All of Britain, vehicle age 5: 86%All of Britain, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All of Britain, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All of Britain, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All of Britain, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All of Britain, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All of Britain, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All of Britain, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All of Britain, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All of Britain, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All of Britain, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All of Britain, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All of Britain, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All of Britain, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All of Britain, vehicle age 19: 57%All of Britain, vehicle age 20: 57.6%DG area 58.9%All of Britain 57.6%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)DG area testsDG area pass rateAll cars
33,23991.4%88.5%
44,00189.8%87.2%
54,24988.5%86.0%
66,07486.5%83.5%
76,63282.3%80.9%
86,77480.0%78.2%
97,05275.8%74.9%
106,93371.5%71.9%
116,29270.7%68.6%
125,16867.0%65.8%
134,02465.0%63.5%
143,29862.6%61.2%
152,96060.9%59.3%
162,40458.3%58.3%
171,92958.4%57.2%
181,64957.2%57.4%
191,19359.0%57.0%
2088058.9%57.6%

Better or worse than the national average?

The DG area's pass rate minus the national pass rate at each car age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: DG-area tests beat the national average for that age. Below zero: they trail.

DG area aheadDG area behind
-4-2+0+2+4Age 3: +2.9 points vs the average car3Age 4: +2.6 points vs the average carAge 5: +2.5 points vs the average car5Age 6: +3.0 points vs the average carAge 7: +1.4 points vs the average car7Age 8: +1.8 points vs the average carAge 9: +0.9 points vs the average car9Age 10: -0.4 points vs the average carAge 11: +2.1 points vs the average car11Age 12: +1.2 points vs the average carAge 13: +1.5 points vs the average car13Age 14: +1.4 points vs the average carAge 15: +1.6 points vs the average car15Age 16: +0.0 points vs the average carAge 17: +1.2 points vs the average car17Age 18: -0.2 points vs the average carAge 19: +2.0 points vs the average car19Age 20: +1.3 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3+2.9
4+2.6
5+2.5
6+3.0
7+1.4
8+1.8
9+0.9
10-0.4
11+2.1
12+1.2
13+1.5
14+1.4
15+1.6
16+0.0
17+1.2
18-0.2
19+2.0
20+1.3

The cars tested around Dumfries, by age

How many cars of each age took a first MOT at DG-area test centres in 2025 — the age profile of what the area actually drives.

02k4k6k8kAge 3: 3k3Age 4: 4kAge 5: 4k5Age 6: 6kAge 7: 6k7Age 8: 6kAge 9: 7k9Age 10: 6kAge 11: 6k11Age 12: 5kAge 13: 4k13Age 14: 3kAge 15: 2k15Age 16: 2kAge 17: 1k17Age 18: 1kAge 19: 1k19Age 20: 88020Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
33,239
44,001
54,249
66,074
76,632
86,774
97,052
106,933
116,292
125,168
134,024
143,298
152,960
162,404
171,929
181,649
191,193
20880

What cars fail on around Dumfries

Where the failure items land for tests done in the DG area, 2025.

Suspension25.2%
Brakes19.9%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.8%
Tyres10.6%
Body, chassis, structure8.3%
Visibility5.7%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.2%
Steering4.1%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (97.6% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" in the DG area, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Suspension: 31.2% of advisories31.2%Brakes: 27.2% of advisories27.2%Tyres: 24.2% of advisories24.2%Body, chassis, structure: 5.4% of advisoriesNon-component advisories: 3.6% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 2.9% of advisories
SuspensionBrakesTyresBody, chassis, structureNon-component advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Suspension31.2%
Brakes27.2%
Tyres24.2%
Body, chassis, structure5.4%
Non-component advisories3.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks2.9%

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric?

First-time pass rate for the four most-tested fuel types in the DG area, 2025, against the national all-cars average. Fleet ages differ by fuel — newer fleets help the electrified bars.

50%60%70%80%90%100%all cars 72.3%Diesel: 72.3% of 41,393 tests72.3%Diesel41,393 testsPetrol: 75.8% of 33,367 tests75.8%Petrol33,367 testsHybrid electric: 88.0% of 2,022 tests88.0%Hybrid2,022 testsElectric: 85.6% of 729 tests85.6%Electric729 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Diesel41,39372.3%
Petrol33,36775.8%
Hybrid electric2,02288.0%
Electric72985.6%

What mileage is normal around Dumfries?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, DG-area tests, 2025. The line is the typical (median) car; the shaded band holds the middle half.

Typical car, DG area (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k150k3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 23,750 miles (middle half 16,250–33,750)Age 4: typical 33,750 miles (middle half 23,750–43,750)Age 5: typical 38,750 miles (middle half 26,250–51,250)Age 6: typical 46,250 miles (middle half 31,250–61,250)Age 7: typical 53,750 miles (middle half 38,750–71,250)Age 8: typical 61,250 miles (middle half 46,250–81,250)Age 9: typical 68,750 miles (middle half 51,250–91,250)Age 10: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 56,250–98,750)Age 11: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 63,750–108,750)Age 12: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 66,250–113,750)Age 13: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 71,250–123,750)Age 14: typical 101,250 miles (middle half 76,250–128,750)Age 15: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 76,250–131,250)Age 16: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 73,750–133,750)Age 17: typical 106,250 miles (middle half 78,750–138,750)Age 18: typical 108,750 miles (middle half 78,750–143,750)Age 19: typical 108,750 miles (middle half 76,250–143,750)Age 20: typical 108,750 miles (middle half 76,250–143,750)108k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
316,25023,75033,750
423,75033,75043,750
526,25038,75051,250
631,25046,25061,250
738,75053,75071,250
846,25061,25081,250
951,25068,75091,250
1056,25076,25098,750
1163,75086,250108,750
1266,25088,750113,750
1371,25096,250123,750
1476,250101,250128,750
1576,250103,750131,250
1673,750103,750133,750
1778,750106,250138,750
1878,750108,750143,750
1976,250108,750143,750
2076,250108,750143,750

What the DG area drives

The 12 most-tested makes at DG-area test centres, 2025, ordered by how many were tested — not a pass-rate league. Pass rates are unadjusted for fleet age: a make whose cars round here run older sits lower for that reason alone.

MakeTests 2025 Pass rate
Ford10,12773.4%
Vauxhall8,18970.4%
Volkswagen6,85376.6%
Renault3,85967.3%
BMW3,50582.3%
Peugeot3,39066.9%
Audi3,26979.7%
Skoda3,23979.2%
Toyota3,08574.9%
Honda2,97377.4%
Nissan2,82271.9%
Citroen2,70467.2%

MOT test centres in the DG area

80 DVSA-approved MOT test stations across the DG postcode area, 73 of them approved for cars (class 4). Grouped by town, largest first. Classes: 1–2 motorcycles, 3 three-wheelers, 4 cars and small vans, 5 minibuses, 7 vans 3,000–3,500 kg.

CentreAddressPhoneClasses
Dumfries — 32 centres
A & G Motorcycles3c Garroch Business Park, Garroch Loaning, DG2 8PN01387 7511521, 2
Akers GarageUnit 6, Downsway Industrial Estate, DG1 3RS01387 7116634
Arnold Clark361 Annan Road, DG1 3JR01387 2614374, 7
Arnold ClarkMini Roundabout, Annan Road, DG1 3EW01387 2534734
Balmoral Road Car Sales And Service Ltd27-29 Balmoral Road, DG1 3BE01387 2487004
Brasswell Car SalesUnit 2, Gateside Garage, Annan Road, DG1 3JX01387 2515174
Downsway GarageDownsway Industrial Estate, Tinwald Downs Road, Heathhall, DG1 3QL01387 2660004
Dumfries & Galloway CouncilCargen Tower, Garroch Business Park, DG2 8PN01387 2741844, 5, 7
Dumfries Scooters And MotorcyclesRear Of 28 Friars Vennel, DG1 2RL01387 2540041, 2
Dumfries Tyres And AutocareUnit 5, Huntingdon Business Park, Huntingdon Road, DG1 1NF01387 701538Not listed
E A ClarkThe Garage, Station Road, Maxweltown, DG2 9RL01387 2620134
Focus Motor Store Ltd130-132 Terregles Street, DG2 9DX01387 2529194
Glebe GarageUnit 2 Building 3, Old Robertsons Sawmill, Kellwood Road, DG1 4HF01387 2502174, 7
Grierson & Graham Ltd365 Annan Road, DG1 3JR01387 2578004
Halfords Autocentre46 Academy Street, DG1 1DA01387 2541044
Huntingdon GarageHuntingdon Road, DG1 1NF01387 2499294
Huntly's Garage77 College Street, DG2 0AD01387 2628454
Irongray Autocentre LtdUnit 3 Irongray House, Irongray Road, DG2 0HS01387 7217284, 7
J H Glen Motor EngineersThe Garage, Kirkmichael Mains, Parkgate, DG1 3NB01387 8603464, 5, 7
James Haugh (dumfries) Limited2 St Mary's Street, DG1 1HD01387 2552914
Keith Faulds Motor EngineerUnit 1, Downsway 3, Downsway Industrial Estate, Heathhall, DG1 3RS01387 2797901, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Klic Cars Ltd90-94 Annan Road, DG1 3EQ01387 2687774
Kwik FitLaurieknowe Garage, 40 Laurieknowe Place, DG2 7DA01387 2559434
Kwik-Fit1 Brooms Road, DG1 2SH01387 2692194
Lochthorn Car SalesLochthorn Garage, Auchencrieff Road, Locharbriggs, DG1 1XL01387 2654444
Mcdougall Commercials LimitedUnit 3, Dargavel Stores, Lockerbie Road, DG1 3PG01387 2620524, 5, 7
Oaktree Garage, Mot, Service & RepairUnit 3, Gateside, Brownrigg, DG1 3JU01387 2572814
Park's DumfriesEdinburgh Road, Heathhall, DG1 3NU01387 2638174
Parkdale Garage LtdDalbeattie Road, Cargenbridge, DG2 8LW01387 2517784
Robin Hyslop MotorsUnit 14 - 15, Spitfire Road, Heathhall Business Centre, DG1 3PH07803 1299734, 7
The Bridge End Garage54 Edinburgh Road, DG1 1JU01387 2577734
Troqueer GarageTroqueer Road, DG2 7DF01387 2544464
Annan — 7 centres
A W Dill Motor EngineerWillow Grove, Lowther Town, Eastriggs, DG12 6NJ01461404494
Annantown GaragePort Street, DG12 6BJ01461 2028324
Bnr Motorworx LtdUnit 8 Broom Industrial Estate, Newbie, DG12 5PF01461 3356634
D A AndersonAnnan Road, Eastriggs, DG12 6PB01461408984
Jnj AutosUnit 3c Creca Business Park, Creca, DG12 6RP07919 3704754, 7
L & P Motors LtdThe Old Hatchery, Stansfield, Eastriggs, DG12 6TF01461 7000804
Wigton Vw LtdSwordwell Cottage, Carlisle Road, DG12 6QZ07736 5439394, 5, 7
Newton Stewart — 7 centres
Allison MotorsSouth Street, Port William, DG8 9SG01988 7002774
B Marshall Motor Engineers LtdBishopton Garage, Whithorn, DG8 8DE01988 4012314, 7
I M AutosUnit 4, Station Industrial Estate, DG8 6ND01671 4029874, 7
Minnigaff Mot CentreUnit 1, Block 2, Holmpark Industrial Estate, Minnigaff, DG8 6AW01671 4040804
R F Mccreadie & Co Ltd45 Queen Street, DG8 6JR01671 4021124
St John's GarageSt John Street, Whithorn, DG8 8PF01988 5002034
W A BarclayLow Vennel Garage, Wigtown, DG8 9HW01988 4023034, 7
Stranraer — 7 centres
Deals 4 Wheels Mot Centre3 Commerce Road, Blackparks Industrial Estate, DG9 7DE01776 8891644, 5, 7
Dumfries & Galloway CouncilCommerce Road, DG9 7DD01776 7069484, 5, 7
Erskine Automotive ServicesCairnryan Road, DG9 8QJ01776 8591624, 5, 7
Halfords Autocentre1 Commerce Road, DG9 7DX01776 7029224
Nxn Auto Repairs & Mot Centre5-7 Glen Street, DG9 7EP01776 700010Not listed
Sandmill Mot Centre LtdBlackparks Industrial Estate, Commerce Road, DG9 7DE01776 8896351, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Wilson Auto RepairsFountain Way, Blackparks Industrial Estate, DG9 7UD01776 7000181, 2, 4, 5, 7
Lockerbie — 5 centres
Car And Truck Services LtdDryfe Road, DG11 2RF01576 2044244, 5, 7
G & T Moffat & Co LtdSmithfield, Kirkpatrick-Fleming, DG11 3AU01461 8002334
Houston's Mini CoachesUnit 1, Broomhouse Industrial Estate, DG11 2RZ01576 203874Not listed
Morton Motors2 Victoria Road, DG11 2BH01576 2027791, 2, 4
Tommy's Garage LtdUnit 2, Broadmedow Industrial Estate, Ecclefechan, DG11 3LG01576 3004124
Castle Douglas — 4 centres
Balmoral Road Car Sales And Service Ltd26a King Street, DG7 1AA01556 5091254
Bryan Swales Auto Repairs LtdStation Yard Industrial Estate, Oakwell Road, DG7 1LA01556 5029184
Castle Douglas Mot CentreUnit 6, Greenlaw Business Park, DG7 2LH01556 5030901, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Robertson Gemini Ltd96-98 Cotton Street, DG7 1AN01556 5025604, 5, 7
Dalbeattie — 4 centres
J V S EngineerUnit 5, Edingham Industrial Estate, DG5 4NA01556 6121834, 5, 7
Jardine Motors LtdCraignair Street, DG5 4AX01556 6108044, 7
Kevin Thornhill Motor Engineer LtdUnit 3, Biggars Mill Business Park, Port Road, DG5 4AZ01556 6105674, 7
Paterson And Parker LtdMillo Place Service Station, High Street, DG5 4DP01556 6106593, 4
Kirkcudbright — 4 centres
Crosbie & BatemanBeaconsfield Garage, Beaconsfield Place, DG6 4DP01557 3305584
Kempleton Cars LtdUnit 1, Old Council Roads Depot, Tongland, DG6 4NB01557 3305714
W B GallowayRedfield Filling Station, Twynholm, DG6 4NT01557 8602401, 2
William Paul Motor EngineerThe Garage, Kempleton Mill, Twynholm, DG6 4NJ01557 8604144
Thornhill — 4 centres
A & D WilsonDalwhat Garage, High Street, Moniaive, DG3 4HN01848 2002164
BrownriggsThe Garage, Station Road, DG3 5LZ01848 3302034
James F RobertsonPenpont Garage, Penpont, DG3 4BZ01848 3302354
R ThomsonThe Garage, Keir Mill, DG3 4DH01848 3307664
Sanquhar — 3 centres
H A HarknessGarage, The Common, Kirkconnel, DG4 6JT01659670824
Nithsdale Garage95-105 High Street, DG4 6DX01659508384
Townhead GarageBuccleugh Road, DG4 6BX01659503491, 2
Langholm — 1 centre
Martins Tyre & Auto Services LtdHigh Street, DG13 0DJ01387 3802461, 2, 4
Minnigaff — 1 centre
S Mcdowell Mechanical EngineerUnit 1, Holmpark Industrial Estate, DG8 6AW01671 4044344
Moffat — 1 centre
Mcm Garage ServicesLochhouse Yard, Beattock, DG10 9SG01683 3002004

Source: DVSA Active MOT test stations (Open Government Licence v3.0), release of 26 February 2026. Listing here means DVSA approves the station for the classes shown; it is not a recommendation, and we publish no per-garage pass rates. Some stations are sole traders, so an address may be a home address — we show it because DVSA publishes it as the approved test site. Run a test station and want your entry corrected or removed? Email [email protected] and we will act within 7 days.

How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Location is the test centre's postcode area, not where any car is kept. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.