MOT pass rates in Harrogate

93,409 cars took a first MOT at test centres in the HG postcode area in 2025. The HG postcode area covers Harrogate and the towns around it — Knaresborough and Ripon 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
73.9%
1.6 points above the class-4 average (72.3%); reflects the mix of cars tested here
Tests analysed
93,409
first tests, 2025
Average car age at test
9.6 yrs
national average 10.7 yrs
Arrived with a dangerous fault
6.8%
of HG-area first tests; national 7.3%

How Harrogate 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
#42 highest
73.9% of first tests passed, of the 116 areas
Fleet age
#104 oldest
average 9.6 yrs at test, of the 116 areas
Electric share
#20 highest
2.7% of first tests were electric cars, of the 116 areas
Tests done
#109 busiest
93,409 first tests in 2025, of the 116 areas

The area's signature make

Of the twelve most-tested makes at HG-area test centres, Land Rover is the one tested furthest above its national share: 5.1% of HG-area first tests against 2.8% of tests nationally — 1.8 times its national rate. That is a fact about what the area drives, not a claim about the make.

Harrogate and its neighbours

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

AreaFirst tests Pass rateAvg ageElectric
HG (Harrogate)93,40973.9%9.6 yrs2.7%
BD (Bradford)295,50874.1%11.0 yrs1.5%
DL (Darlington)192,42669.9%10.2 yrs1.4%
LS (Leeds)373,06071.9%10.2 yrs2.5%
YO (York)315,82370.5%10.4 yrs1.8%

Pass rate by car age — HG area vs national

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, 2025.

Harrogate (HG) areaAll of Britain
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)HG area, vehicle age 3: 90.6%HG area, vehicle age 4: 88.3%HG area, vehicle age 5: 87.3%HG area, vehicle age 6: 84.2%HG area, vehicle age 7: 80.6%HG area, vehicle age 8: 77.2%HG area, vehicle age 9: 72.9%HG area, vehicle age 10: 68.9%HG area, vehicle age 11: 66.4%HG area, vehicle age 12: 62.6%HG area, vehicle age 13: 61%HG area, vehicle age 14: 58.4%HG area, vehicle age 15: 55.5%HG area, vehicle age 16: 55.8%HG area, vehicle age 17: 54.9%HG area, vehicle age 18: 55%HG area, vehicle age 19: 56.9%HG area, vehicle age 20: 56.3%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%HG area 56.3%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)HG area testsHG area pass rateAll cars
37,36590.6%88.5%
47,16288.3%87.2%
56,23787.3%86.0%
68,67684.2%83.5%
77,90280.6%80.9%
87,70577.2%78.2%
97,40572.9%74.9%
106,90668.9%71.9%
116,02466.4%68.6%
125,25762.6%65.8%
134,06261.0%63.5%
143,41658.4%61.2%
152,97055.5%59.3%
162,40555.8%58.3%
171,88954.9%57.2%
181,78355.0%57.4%
191,25456.9%57.0%
201,05156.3%57.6%

Better or worse than the national average?

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

HG area aheadHG area behind
-4-2+0+2+4Age 3: +2.1 points vs the average car3Age 4: +1.1 points vs the average carAge 5: +1.3 points vs the average car5Age 6: +0.7 points vs the average carAge 7: -0.3 points vs the average car7Age 8: -1.0 points vs the average carAge 9: -2.0 points vs the average car9Age 10: -3.0 points vs the average carAge 11: -2.2 points vs the average car11Age 12: -3.2 points vs the average carAge 13: -2.5 points vs the average car13Age 14: -2.8 points vs the average carAge 15: -3.8 points vs the average car15Age 16: -2.5 points vs the average carAge 17: -2.3 points vs the average car17Age 18: -2.4 points vs the average carAge 19: -0.1 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+2.1
4+1.1
5+1.3
6+0.7
7-0.3
8-1.0
9-2.0
10-3.0
11-2.2
12-3.2
13-2.5
14-2.8
15-3.8
16-2.5
17-2.3
18-2.4
19-0.1
20-1.3

The cars tested around Harrogate, by age

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

02k4k6k9kAge 3: 7k3Age 4: 7kAge 5: 6k5Age 6: 8kAge 7: 7k7Age 8: 7kAge 9: 7k9Age 10: 6kAge 11: 6k11Age 12: 5kAge 13: 4k13Age 14: 3kAge 15: 2k15Age 16: 2kAge 17: 1k17Age 18: 1kAge 19: 1k19Age 20: 1k20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
37,365
47,162
56,237
68,676
77,902
87,705
97,405
106,906
116,024
125,257
134,062
143,416
152,970
162,405
171,889
181,783
191,254
201,051

What cars fail on around Harrogate

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

Suspension24.2%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment19.0%
Brakes18.0%
Tyres14.0%
Visibility7.7%
Body, chassis, structure6.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.9%
Steering3.7%

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 HG area, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Tyres: 33.0% of advisories33.0%Brakes: 28.8% of advisories28.8%Suspension: 21.8% of advisories21.8%Non-component advisories: 5.0% of advisoriesBody, chassis, structure: 3.6% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 3.1% of advisories
TyresBrakesSuspensionNon-component advisoriesBody, chassis, structureNoise, emissions and leaks
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Tyres33.0%
Brakes28.8%
Suspension21.8%
Non-component advisories5.0%
Body, chassis, structure3.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks3.1%

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric?

First-time pass rate for the four most-tested fuel types in the HG 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%Petrol: 74.8% of 49,225 tests74.8%Petrol49,225 testsDiesel: 69.6% of 35,702 tests69.6%Diesel35,702 testsHybrid electric: 86.7% of 5,416 tests86.7%Hybrid5,416 testsElectric: 86.1% of 2,546 tests86.1%Electric2,546 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol49,22574.8%
Diesel35,70269.6%
Hybrid electric5,41686.7%
Electric2,54686.1%

What mileage is normal around Harrogate?

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

Typical car, HG area (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k150k3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 23,750 miles (middle half 16,250–33,750)Age 4: typical 31,250 miles (middle half 21,250–43,750)Age 5: typical 36,250 miles (middle half 26,250–48,750)Age 6: typical 41,250 miles (middle half 28,750–56,250)Age 7: typical 48,750 miles (middle half 33,750–66,250)Age 8: typical 56,250 miles (middle half 38,750–76,250)Age 9: typical 61,250 miles (middle half 43,750–83,750)Age 10: typical 71,250 miles (middle half 48,750–93,750)Age 11: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 53,750–101,250)Age 12: typical 81,250 miles (middle half 58,750–108,750)Age 13: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 61,250–113,750)Age 14: typical 91,250 miles (middle half 66,250–118,750)Age 15: typical 91,250 miles (middle half 66,250–123,750)Age 16: typical 91,250 miles (middle half 63,750–121,250)Age 17: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 71,250–128,750)Age 18: typical 93,750 miles (middle half 68,750–126,250)Age 19: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 66,250–126,250)Age 20: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 66,250–131,250)96k 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
421,25031,25043,750
526,25036,25048,750
628,75041,25056,250
733,75048,75066,250
838,75056,25076,250
943,75061,25083,750
1048,75071,25093,750
1153,75076,250101,250
1258,75081,250108,750
1361,25086,250113,750
1466,25091,250118,750
1566,25091,250123,750
1663,75091,250121,250
1771,25098,750128,750
1868,75093,750126,250
1966,25096,250126,250
2066,25096,250131,250

What the HG area drives

The 12 most-tested makes at HG-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
Volkswagen9,67374.4%
Ford8,87868.3%
Vauxhall6,66567.6%
Audi6,11480.7%
BMW5,40680.3%
Mercedes-Benz5,02876.2%
Land Rover4,78378.8%
Toyota4,51575.0%
Kia4,28176.7%
MINI3,76679.9%
Skoda2,94373.3%
Nissan2,90763.0%

MOT test centres in the HG area

79 DVSA-approved MOT test stations across the HG 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
Harrogate — 49 centres
Acklams Beta LimitedThe Barn, Unit 12, Levens Hall Park, Lund Lane, Killinghall, HG3 2BG01423 5651251, 2
Ats Euromaster Limited HarrogateLeeds Road, HG3 1EP01423 8791944, 5, 7
Automotive SolutionsUnit 11, Killinghall Stone Quarry, HG3 2BA01423 3136801, 2, 4
Baxters GarageQuarry Lane, HG1 3HR01423 5047964
Bridgeside Garage LimitedStone Quarry, Ripon Road, Killinghall, HG3 2BA01423 5636514, 7
Brookroyd GarageOtley Road, Killinghall, HG3 2DN01423 5617824
Carlingo LtdFreemans Way, HG3 1DH07818 4133344
CarmasterUnit 2, Kindon Court, Camwal Road, HG1 4PT01423 8812134
Central Garage (harrogate) Limited17 - 23 Bower Road, HG1 1BE07517 8937174
Claro Road Mot Testing StationCouncil Depot, Claro Road, HG1 4AT01423 5568774, 7
Cracknells GarageThe Garage, Summerbridge, HG3 4HZ01423 7802464
Great North Auto Services LtdUnit 2d, Hookstone Park, HG2 7DB01423 642522Not listed
Gt ServiceUnit 1d, Follifoot Ridge Business Park, Follifoot, HG3 1DP01423 6233664
Halfords Autocentre16 Bower Road, HG1 1BA01423 5222784
Halfords Autocentre196 Ripon Road, HG1 2JA01423 5027024
Halfords AutocentreNew Park, Ripon Road, HG1 2BS01423 567121Not listed
Harrogate Auto Centre LimitedUnit 4/5 Claro Way, HG1 4DE01423 5695694, 7
Housemans Auto Repair Centre29 Camwal Road, Starbeck, HG1 4PT01423 8877804, 5, 7
Jt And Cs Simpson LimitedMill Hurst, Darley, HG3 2QH01423 7808824
K Newby Auto ServicesUnit 6, Beech Avenue Business Park, Beech Avenue, HG2 8DS01423 8700484
K R Motors Ltd48 Camwal Road, HG1 4PT01423 8880774
Kwik Fit19 York Place, HG1 1HL01423 5083444
Marshall Honda Of HarrogateHarrogate Business Park, Freemans Way, HG3 1DH01423 8800774
Mdr Motors Ltd4 Camwal Road, HG1 4PT01423 8871614
Mercedes- Benz Of HarrogateLeeds Road, Pannal, HG3 1EP01423 8166664
Mike Wilson MotorsUnit 6 Levens Hall Park, Killinghall, HG3 2BG01423 5363534, 5, 7
Monkton Moor GarageWormald Green, HG3 3QA01765 6773094, 7
Moorlands Garage LimitedOtley Road, Killinghall, HG3 2AS01423 5258534
Motorvation Of HarrogateBack Dragon Avenue, HG1 5DW01423 5218684
Ncr ServicesCorn Close Farm, Low Wath Road, Pateley Bridge, HG3 5HL01423 7113094, 5, 7
Newnham Street GarageNewnham Street, HG2 7SS01423 8845174
Normans Garage Harrogate Limited25a Camwal Road, Starbeck, HG1 4PT01423 8890884
Old Forge MotorsWaterloo Street, HG1 5JD01423 5202464
Pannal Motor CentreStation Road, Pannal, HG3 1JN01423 8738234
Park Parade Garage31 Regent Parade, HG1 5AZ01423 5077144
Pratt Brothers Harrogate LimitedRear Of Pratt Bros, Ripon Road, HG1 3HL01423 5658834
Premier Motor Service67-69 Eastville Terrace, HG1 3HJ01423 5259094
Provincial Garage Starbeck LtdProvincial Works, The Avenue, Starbeck, HG1 4QE01423 8849494
Simon Graeme Auto Service CentreUnit 1 Greystone Plain Lane, Felliscliffe, HG3 2LY01423 7707791, 2, 4, 5, 7
Skipton Road Garage187 Skipton Road, HG1 3EX01423 5652724
Staiano Motorcycles Ltd39 High Street, Starbeck, HG2 7LQ01423 8879851, 2
Starbeck Motor Cycles2a Camwal Road, Starbeck, HG1 4PT01423 8899161, 2
Stephen King Auto Services LimitedCarlton Garage, 20a Regent Parade, HG1 5AW01423 5072144
StoneacreBroughton Way, High Street, Starbeck, HG2 7NY01423 8189004
Stratstone Bmw HarrogatePrincess Royal Way, Pannal, HG3 1LG01423 8555004
Stratstone Mini HarrogateHarrogate Business Park, Wetherby Road, HG3 1RR01423 8555154
Stumps Garage LimitedMain Street, Darley, HG3 2PR01423 7802823, 4
The Test CentreBogs Lane, HG1 4DY01423 8850334, 5, 7
Western Garage Harrogate LtdValley Mount, HG2 0JG01423 5029024
Ripon — 15 centres
Batchelors Of Ripon LtdCamphill Close, Dallamires Lane, HG4 1TT01765 6905904
Blossomgate Motors LtdUnit 2, Navigation Way, Ripon Business Park, HG4 1AB01765 6088001, 2, 4
Blythes Garage LimitedGreen End, Melmerby, HG4 5HR01765 6403394, 5, 7
Gills Auto Services LimitedUnit 6, Canalside, Dallamires Lane, HG4 1TT01765 6047773, 4
J A Services Ripon LimitedUnit 5, Park Field, Studley Road, HG4 2QR01765 6019404
Kirkby MotorsMain Street, Kirkby Malzeard, HG4 3SE01765 658468Not listed
Kwik - FitLow Skellgate, Harrogate Road, HG4 1SR01765 6078064
L G AutosUnit 6 Ure Bank Maltings, HG4 1AE01765 6017904, 7
Lloyd Motors LtdHutton Bank, HG4 5DT01765 6464644, 5, 7
Powells Of Ripon LtdUre Bank Top, HG4 1JD01765 6073571, 2, 4
Ripon Paint And BodyDallamires Lane, HG4 1TT01765 6922554, 7
Ripon Tyre And Auto ServicesBoroughbridge Road, HG4 1UE01765 6922444
Roger Clarke Motor Engineers LtdUnit 1 The Sidings, Melmerby Junction, Melmerby, HG4 5EX01765 6406674, 7
Wensleydale GarageLeyburn Road, Masham, HG4 4ER01765 6892024
West Tanfield GarageWest Tanfield, HG4 5JU01677 4703454, 7
Knaresborough — 14 centres
Ashtons Automotive LtdUnit 3a Rabbit Hill Business Park, Arkendale, HG5 0FF01423 3967964, 7
Bristol Street MotorsGrimbald Crag Road, HG5 8PY01423 7998104, 7
Fairdeal Motors Knaresborough LimitedManse Lane, HG5 8LF01423 8686714
Harrogate AudiSt James Business Park, Grimbald Crag Road, HG5 8PY01423 8697004
Knaresborough Tyre And Autocare LimitedUnit 4, Marrtree Business Park, Grimbald Crag Close, HG5 8FA01423 7972064, 5, 7
Kwik FitSt James Business Park, HG5 8PY01423 7995004
Lingerfield GarageMarket Flat Lane, Lingerfield, HG5 9JA01423 8603164
Piccadilly Motors LtdBoroughbridge Road, HG5 0LZ01423 8631024
Roundwood GarageUnit 1 Grimbald Park, Wetherby Road, HG5 8LJ01423 8609724, 5, 7
Scotton GarageMarket Flat Lane, Lingerfield, HG5 9JA01423 7970504
StoneacreGrimbald Cragg Road, St James Retail Park, HG5 8PY01423 7986004
Vantage Toyota KnaresboroughYork Road, HG5 0SS01423 8674564
VasstechUnit 6 Premium Point, Grimbald Crag Close, HG5 8PW01423 8679244
Vertu Volkswagen HarrogateGrimbal Crag Road, St James Business Park, HG5 8PY01423 8600634
Arkendale — 1 centre
Great North Auto Services LtdUnit 3b, Rabbit Hill Business Park, Great North Road, HG5 0FF01423 3680604, 7

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.