MOT pass rates in Galashiels

63,587 cars took a first MOT at test centres in the TD postcode area in 2025. The TD postcode area covers Galashiels and the towns around it — Hawick, Kelso, Melrose, Selkirk and Berwick-upon-Tweed 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
71.1%
1.2 points below the class-4 average (72.3%); reflects the mix of cars tested here
Tests analysed
63,587
first tests, 2025
Average car age at test
9.9 yrs
national average 10.7 yrs
Arrived with a dangerous fault
7.6%
of TD-area first tests; national 7.3%

How Galashiels 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
#72 highest
71.1% of first tests passed, of the 116 areas
Fleet age
#96 oldest
average 9.9 yrs at test, of the 116 areas
Electric share
#111 highest
1.1% of first tests were electric cars, of the 116 areas
Tests done
#114 busiest
63,587 first tests in 2025, of the 116 areas

The area's signature make

Of the twelve most-tested makes at TD-area test centres, Volvo is the one tested furthest above its national share: 4.2% of TD-area first tests against 1.8% of tests nationally — 2.3 times its national rate. That is a fact about what the area drives, not a claim about the make.

Galashiels and its neighbours

Galashiels and five neighbouring postcode areas, 2025. Pass rates are unadjusted for fleet age and mix.

AreaFirst tests Pass rateAvg ageElectric
TD (Galashiels)63,58771.1%9.9 yrs1.1%
CA (Carlisle)198,01271.9%10.1 yrs1.2%
DG (Dumfries)77,77874.4%10.4 yrs0.9%
EH (Edinburgh)418,76470.0%9.3 yrs2.5%
ML (Motherwell)164,97070.8%8.7 yrs1.7%
NE (Newcastle upon Tyne)556,80973.2%9.9 yrs2.0%

Pass rate by car age — TD area vs national

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, 2025.

Galashiels (TD) areaAll of Britain
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)TD area, vehicle age 3: 89.5%TD area, vehicle age 4: 87.5%TD area, vehicle age 5: 86%TD area, vehicle age 6: 82.4%TD area, vehicle age 7: 79%TD area, vehicle age 8: 75%TD area, vehicle age 9: 70.9%TD area, vehicle age 10: 67.7%TD area, vehicle age 11: 64.1%TD area, vehicle age 12: 60.5%TD area, vehicle age 13: 58.5%TD area, vehicle age 14: 56.9%TD area, vehicle age 15: 52.2%TD area, vehicle age 16: 54.6%TD area, vehicle age 17: 53%TD area, vehicle age 18: 55.4%TD area, vehicle age 19: 52.6%TD area, vehicle age 20: 55.4%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%All of Britain 57.6%TD area 55.4%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)TD area testsTD area pass rateAll cars
33,14589.5%88.5%
43,99787.5%87.2%
54,12186.0%86.0%
65,56582.4%83.5%
75,60679.0%80.9%
85,57875.0%78.2%
95,93170.9%74.9%
105,61867.7%71.9%
114,62864.1%68.6%
123,93460.5%65.8%
133,05458.5%63.5%
142,41956.9%61.2%
152,07352.2%59.3%
161,66454.6%58.3%
171,33053.0%57.2%
181,17855.4%57.4%
1982752.6%57.0%
2060355.4%57.6%

Better or worse than the national average?

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

TD area aheadTD area behind
-8-4+0+4+8Age 3: +1.0 points vs the average car3Age 4: +0.3 points vs the average carAge 5: +0.0 points vs the average car5Age 6: -1.1 points vs the average carAge 7: -1.9 points vs the average car7Age 8: -3.2 points vs the average carAge 9: -4.0 points vs the average car9Age 10: -4.2 points vs the average carAge 11: -4.5 points vs the average car11Age 12: -5.3 points vs the average carAge 13: -5.0 points vs the average car13Age 14: -4.3 points vs the average carAge 15: -7.1 points vs the average car15Age 16: -3.7 points vs the average carAge 17: -4.2 points vs the average car17Age 18: -2.0 points vs the average carAge 19: -4.4 points vs the average car19Age 20: -2.2 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3+1.0
4+0.3
5+0.0
6-1.1
7-1.9
8-3.2
9-4.0
10-4.2
11-4.5
12-5.3
13-5.0
14-4.3
15-7.1
16-3.7
17-4.2
18-2.0
19-4.4
20-2.2

The cars tested around Galashiels, by age

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

01k3k4k6kAge 3: 3k3Age 4: 3kAge 5: 4k5Age 6: 5kAge 7: 5k7Age 8: 5kAge 9: 5k9Age 10: 5kAge 11: 4k11Age 12: 3kAge 13: 3k13Age 14: 2kAge 15: 2k15Age 16: 1kAge 17: 1k17Age 18: 1kAge 19: 82719Age 20: 60320Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
33,145
43,997
54,121
65,565
75,606
85,578
95,931
105,618
114,628
123,934
133,054
142,419
152,073
161,664
171,330
181,178
19827
20603

What cars fail on around Galashiels

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

Brakes23.5%
Suspension23.2%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.8%
Tyres9.9%
Body, chassis, structure7.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.6%
Visibility5.6%
Steering3.8%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (98.0% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

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

Brakes: 37.0% of advisories37.0%Tyres: 23.7% of advisories23.7%Suspension: 23.4% of advisories23.4%Body, chassis, structure: 4.5% of advisoriesNon-component advisories: 3.6% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 3.4% of advisories
BrakesTyresSuspensionBody, chassis, structureNon-component advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Brakes37.0%
Tyres23.7%
Suspension23.4%
Body, chassis, structure4.5%
Non-component advisories3.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks3.4%

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric?

First-time pass rate for the four most-tested fuel types in the TD 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: 68.9% of 31,355 tests68.9%Diesel31,355 testsPetrol: 71.8% of 28,943 tests71.8%Petrol28,943 testsHybrid electric: 87.0% of 2,350 tests87.0%Hybrid2,350 testsElectric: 77.3% of 717 tests77.3%Electric717 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Diesel31,35568.9%
Petrol28,94371.8%
Hybrid electric2,35087.0%
Electric71777.3%

What mileage is normal around Galashiels?

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

Typical car, TD area (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k150k3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 26,250 miles (middle half 16,250–36,250)Age 4: typical 33,750 miles (middle half 23,750–46,250)Age 5: typical 38,750 miles (middle half 28,750–51,250)Age 6: typical 46,250 miles (middle half 33,750–61,250)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 51,250–88,750)Age 10: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 56,250–98,750)Age 11: typical 81,250 miles (middle half 61,250–106,250)Age 12: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 66,250–113,750)Age 13: typical 93,750 miles (middle half 68,750–118,750)Age 14: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 76,250–126,250)Age 15: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 73,750–131,250)Age 16: typical 101,250 miles (middle half 73,750–131,250)Age 17: typical 106,250 miles (middle half 78,750–138,750)Age 18: typical 108,750 miles (middle half 78,750–141,250)Age 19: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 78,750–138,750)Age 20: typical 106,250 miles (middle half 71,250–141,250)106k mi

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

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
316,25026,25036,250
423,75033,75046,250
528,75038,75051,250
633,75046,25061,250
738,75053,75071,250
846,25061,25081,250
951,25068,75088,750
1056,25076,25098,750
1161,25081,250106,250
1266,25086,250113,750
1368,75093,750118,750
1476,25098,750126,250
1573,75098,750131,250
1673,750101,250131,250
1778,750106,250138,750
1878,750108,750141,250
1978,750103,750138,750
2071,250106,250141,250

What the TD area drives

The 12 most-tested makes at TD-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
Ford8,39171.0%
Vauxhall6,78665.8%
Volkswagen5,97972.1%
Toyota3,31074.9%
Nissan3,02266.0%
Volvo2,67377.4%
Peugeot2,66364.8%
Audi2,63676.2%
Kia2,57976.7%
Land Rover2,52574.8%
Mercedes-Benz2,31976.7%
Citroen2,11462.2%

MOT test centres in the TD area

77 DVSA-approved MOT test stations across the TD postcode area, 68 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
Berwick Upon Tweed — 13 centres
B H P (norham) Ltd24 Castle Street, Norham, TD15 2LQ01289 3822394
Berwick Upon Tweed Mot & Service Centre29 Northumberland Road, TD15 2AS01289 3025264, 5, 7
Bookless Motors Ltd43 Main Street, Lowick, TD15 2UD01289 3882084
Greenwoods 24/7Kings Mount, Ramparts Business Park, TD15 1TQ01289 3320704
Greenwoods 24/7The Old Dairy, Kingsmount, Ramparts Business Park, TD15 1UN01289 3320704, 5, 7
Js45 Motor GarageUnit 4d East Ord Industrial Estate, TD15 2XF01289 3305454, 7
Maxwell MotorsWindmill Way West, Ramparts Business Park, TD15 1TB01289 3060004
Mccreath And SonNorth Road, TD15 1QQ01289 3322224
Scooter Motorcycle ServicesUnit C, Sandstell Road, Spittal, TD15 1RE07870 7392661, 2
Semples Of BerwickTweedside Trading Estate, TD15 2XF01289 3307074
T I MotorcyclesThe Albert Hall, West Street Corner, Spittal, TD15 1SB07809 4861211, 2
Tustain Motors LtdBrass Bastian, Ramparts Business Park, TD15 1TX01289 3055854, 7
Tweedmouth Service StationTweedside Trading Estate, TD15 2XF01289 3066644
Hawick — 9 centres
Armstrongs Garage LtdMansfield Road, TD9 8AG01450 3740414, 7
Craig MotorsMansfield Park, TD9 8AL01450 3761694
Hawick Autocare LtdDuke Street, TD9 9NQ01450 3783154
Hawick Motor And Tyre CentreHavelock Place, TD9 8AN01450 3762324
Teviot Tyres & Mot Centre LimitedUnit 10, Lochpark Industrial Estate, TD9 9JA01450 374875Not listed
Thomas B OliverThe Garage, Leydens Road, Denholm, TD9 8NB01450 8702211, 2, 3, 4
Tustain Motors LtdWeensland Road, TD9 8LA01450 3760284
Weensland Motor CentreUnit 1a, Weensland Mill, Weensland Road, TD9 9PS01450 3637774, 7
Wright Auto Repair10 Commercial Road, TD9 7AQ01450 2181504
Duns — 8 centres
Aitken-Walker Cars1 Berwick Road, TD11 3LR01361 8822124
Border Autos And BikesWester Row, Greenlaw, TD10 6XE01361 8103005, 7
Cheeklaw GarageDuns Industrial Estate, Station Road, TD11 3HS01361 8844494
East End GarageMain Street East End, Chirnside, TD11 3XX01890 818313Not listed
J Aitchison Duns LtdBridgend Service Station, TD11 3ES07866 8830924
J E Douglas And SonsIndustrial Estate, Station Road, TD11 3HS01361 8834114, 7
John Cowe MotorsGreenview Garage, Main Street, Swinton, TD11 3JJ01890 8602364, 5, 7
Mill Garage (duns) LimitedStation Road Industrial Estate, TD11 3EJ01361 8837444, 7
Galashiels — 8 centres
A G LeesHuddersfield Street, TD1 3AX01896 7542984
Adam Purves MitsubishiBlock 8, Tweedbank Industrial Estate, Tweedbank, TD1 3RS01896 7591214
Ats Euromaster LtdHuddersfield Street, TD1 3AX01896 7532714
Cartec Vehicle Maintenance LtdBlock 7, Unit 1, Tweedbank Industrial Estate, TD1 3RS01896 7675931, 2
ClelandsMelrose Road, Easter Langlee Industrial, Estate, TD1 2UH01896 7575754
D S Dalgleish And Son111 Melrose Road, TD1 2BZ01896 7547671, 2, 4
Kwik Fit39 Bridge Street, TD1 1SP01896 7547254
Rebz LtdBlock 10, Unit 4, Tweedbank Industrial Estate, TD1 3RS01896 7504311, 2
Kelso — 7 centres
Cessford Motors LtdUnit 1, Croft Industrial Park, Morebattle, TD5 8QQ01573 4407774
Complete Auto Repair CentreSprouston Road, TD5 8EU01573 2268604
Frank GibsonThe Garage, High Street, Yetholm, TD5 8RA01573 4202014, 7
Lloyd Motors KelsoRoxburgh Works, Pinnaclehill Industrial Estate, TD5 8DW01573 2243454
Maxwell Motors Ltd5 Sprouston Road, TD5 8EU01573 2241894
Sab Services Kelso LimitedUnits 1 & 2 Carlaw Road, Pinnacle Industrial Estate, TD5 8AS07825 5877773
Tweedside Light Commercial SalesSpylaw Road, TD5 8DL01573 2251994, 7
Melrose — 6 centres
EurorouteSites 2 And 3 Charlesfield Industrial Estate, St Boswells, TD6 0HH01835 8228814
Gattonside GarageMain Street, Gattonside, TD6 9NP01896 8220754
Park's Toyota St BoswellsSt Boswells Garage, St Boswells, TD6 0EW01835 8229224
Scottish Borders CouncilBowden Road, Newtown St Boswells, TD6 0SA01835 8250074, 5, 7
ServicelineNewtown St Boswells, TD6 0PL01835 8220004
T & M Motorcycle ServicesLanglands Mill, Langlands Place, Newtown, St Boswells, TD6 0SF01835 8228881, 2
Selkirk — 5 centres
Benchmark Motor Company LimitedUnit 1, The Old Bus Garage, Dunsdale Road, TD7 5EA07713 1871224, 7
Ettrickside Garage (selkirk) LtdHillside Terrace, TD7 4BA01750 7220644, 5, 7
Les Millar Garage ServicesCorbie Lynn Works, Mill Street, TD7 5AD07540 0901914
Tait MotorcareUnit 3, Gibson Buildings, Riverside Industrial Estate, TD7 5EQ01750 7258964
Viewfield Service Centre Limited2 Viewfield Lane, TD7 4LJ01750 7212624
Eyemouth — 4 centres
Finlay'sUnit 1 Dicksons Yard, Harbour Road, TD14 5HY01890 2540204
Hogarth MotorsBlock 4, Unit 1, Acredale Industrial Estate, TD14 5LQ01890 7507704
James BurgonUnit 8, Coldingham Road Industrial Estate, TD14 5AN01890 7529824
Scott Brown CarsChirnside Road, Reston, TD14 5JN01890 7612134, 5, 7
Jedburgh — 3 centres
Bongate Garage51 Bongate, TD8 6DT01835 8622624
Bonjedward GarageKelso Road, TD8 6SL01835 8633071, 2, 4, 5, 7
Finlayson Automotive LtdUnit 2, Oxnam Road Industrial Estate, TD8 6LS01835 8622234
Coldstream — 2 centres
B & R MotorsBlock A, Guards Road Industrial Estate, Guards Road, TD12 4EE01890 8829834
D S Dalgleish And Son Coldstream Ltd87 High Street, TD12 4AE01890 8821594
Earlston — 2 centres
Keith Robertson MotorsUnit 5a, Station Road Industrial Estate, TD4 6BZ01896 8490094
Scotts Garage Earlston LimitedUnit 1, Station Road Industrial Estate, TD4 6BZ01896 8493674
Lauder — 2 centres
Adam Purves & Son LtdUnit 1, Whitlaw Industrial Estate, TD2 6PA01578 7222284, 7
Inchkeith MotorsEdinburgh Road, TD2 6PA01578 7228804
St Boswells — 2 centres
Borthwicks Auto EngineersCharlesfield Industrial Estate, Charlesfield, TD6 0HH01835 8221224, 5, 7
HalltuneLanglands Mill, Newton, TD6 0SF01835 8230024
Berwick — 1 centre
Ramparts Mot Centre LtdUnit 5, Marrtree Business Park, Ramparts Business Park, TD15 1UP01289 3317261, 2, 4
Berwick-Upon-Tweed — 1 centre
Kwik - FitHigh Green, TD15 1NA01289 3072884
Berwickshire — 1 centre
Andrew Redden CarsSchool Road, Coldingham, TD14 5NS01890 7712834
Chirnside — 1 centre
Waterloo Van CentreBerwick Road, TD11 3XH01890 8181004
Newcastleton — 1 centre
Border Auto ServicesLiddlesdale Garage, TD9 0RA01387 3753414
Scottish Borders — 1 centre
Hr Motors LimitedWaverley Mill, Huddersfield Street, Galashiels, TD1 3AY01896 7592574

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.