MOT pass rates in South West London

143,591 cars took a first MOT at test centres in the SW postcode area in 2025. The SW postcode area covers South West London. 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
77.2%
4.9 points above the class-4 average (72.3%); reflects the mix of cars tested here
Tests analysed
143,591
first tests, 2025
Average car age at test
10.3 yrs
national average 10.7 yrs
Arrived with a dangerous fault
5.5%
of SW-area first tests; national 7.3%

How South West London 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
#16 highest
77.2% of first tests passed, of the 116 areas
Fleet age
#80 oldest
average 10.3 yrs at test, of the 116 areas
Electric share
#5 highest
4.4% of first tests were electric cars, of the 116 areas
Tests done
#97 busiest
143,591 first tests in 2025, of the 116 areas

The area's signature make

Of the twelve most-tested makes at SW-area test centres, MINI is the one tested furthest above its national share: 4.1% of SW-area first tests against 2.5% of tests nationally — 1.6 times its national rate. That is a fact about what the area drives, not a claim about the make.

South West London and its neighbours

South West London and six neighbouring postcode areas, 2025. Pass rates are unadjusted for fleet age and mix.

AreaFirst tests Pass rateAvg ageElectric
SW (South West London)143,59177.2%10.3 yrs4.4%
CR (Croydon)225,83377.8%10.5 yrs3.6%
KT (Kingston upon Thames)277,51478.5%10.6 yrs3.4%
SE (South East London)260,88675.5%10.9 yrs4.6%
SM (Sutton)74,60179.0%11.3 yrs2.4%
TW (Twickenham)243,72578.5%10.5 yrs3.5%
W (West London)89,46377.6%10.1 yrs8.3%

Pass rate by car age — SW area vs national

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, 2025.

South West London (SW) areaAll of Britain
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)SW area, vehicle age 3: 88.8%SW area, vehicle age 4: 88.4%SW area, vehicle age 5: 87.3%SW area, vehicle age 6: 84.7%SW area, vehicle age 7: 82.9%SW area, vehicle age 8: 81.3%SW area, vehicle age 9: 79.2%SW area, vehicle age 10: 77.4%SW area, vehicle age 11: 74.3%SW area, vehicle age 12: 72.3%SW area, vehicle age 13: 70%SW area, vehicle age 14: 67%SW area, vehicle age 15: 66.2%SW area, vehicle age 16: 64.8%SW area, vehicle age 17: 64.6%SW area, vehicle age 18: 63%SW area, vehicle age 19: 62.4%SW area, vehicle age 20: 62.3%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%SW area 62.3%All of Britain 57.6%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)SW area testsSW area pass rateAll cars
37,85788.8%88.5%
49,13088.4%87.2%
59,57687.3%86.0%
612,89084.7%83.5%
712,67182.9%80.9%
812,63281.3%78.2%
911,98879.2%74.9%
109,58777.4%71.9%
117,21874.3%68.6%
126,27272.3%65.8%
135,71170.0%63.5%
145,14667.0%61.2%
155,11666.2%59.3%
164,89064.8%58.3%
174,21864.6%57.2%
184,25963.0%57.4%
193,29162.4%57.0%
202,56362.3%57.6%

Better or worse than the national average?

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

SW area ahead
-8-4+0+4+8Age 3: +0.3 points vs the average car3Age 4: +1.2 points vs the average carAge 5: +1.3 points vs the average car5Age 6: +1.2 points vs the average carAge 7: +2.0 points vs the average car7Age 8: +3.1 points vs the average carAge 9: +4.3 points vs the average car9Age 10: +5.5 points vs the average carAge 11: +5.7 points vs the average car11Age 12: +6.5 points vs the average carAge 13: +6.5 points vs the average car13Age 14: +5.8 points vs the average carAge 15: +6.9 points vs the average car15Age 16: +6.5 points vs the average carAge 17: +7.4 points vs the average car17Age 18: +5.6 points vs the average carAge 19: +5.4 points vs the average car19Age 20: +4.7 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3+0.3
4+1.2
5+1.3
6+1.2
7+2.0
8+3.1
9+4.3
10+5.5
11+5.7
12+6.5
13+6.5
14+5.8
15+6.9
16+6.5
17+7.4
18+5.6
19+5.4
20+4.7

The cars tested around South West London, by age

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

05k10k15k20kAge 3: 7k3Age 4: 9kAge 5: 9k5Age 6: 12kAge 7: 12k7Age 8: 12kAge 9: 11k9Age 10: 9kAge 11: 7k11Age 12: 6kAge 13: 5k13Age 14: 5kAge 15: 5k15Age 16: 4kAge 17: 4k17Age 18: 4kAge 19: 3k19Age 20: 2k20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
37,857
49,130
59,576
612,890
712,671
812,632
911,988
109,587
117,218
126,272
135,711
145,146
155,116
164,890
174,218
184,259
193,291
202,563

What cars fail on around South West London

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

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment31.1%
Tyres16.0%
Suspension12.7%
Brakes11.5%
Visibility10.7%
Noise, emissions and leaks6.8%
Body, chassis, structure5.0%
Steering2.8%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (96.6% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

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

Tyres: 37.7% of advisories37.7%Brakes: 24.4% of advisories24.4%Suspension: 15.9% of advisories15.9%Non-component advisories: 6.4% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 4.9% of advisoriesIdentification of the vehicle: 3.2% of advisories
TyresBrakesSuspensionNon-component advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaksIdentification of the vehicle
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Tyres37.7%
Brakes24.4%
Suspension15.9%
Non-component advisories6.4%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.9%
Identification of the vehicle3.2%

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric?

First-time pass rate for the four most-tested fuel types in the SW 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 95,640 tests74.8%Petrol95,640 testsDiesel: 78.7% of 25,667 tests78.7%Diesel25,667 testsHybrid electric: 85.3% of 15,477 tests85.3%Hybrid15,477 testsElectric: 87.7% of 6,292 tests87.7%Electric6,292 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol95,64074.8%
Diesel25,66778.7%
Hybrid electric15,47785.3%
Electric6,29287.7%

What mileage is normal around South West London?

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

Typical car, SW area (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 18,750 miles (middle half 11,250–28,750)Age 4: typical 26,250 miles (middle half 16,250–38,750)Age 5: typical 31,250 miles (middle half 21,250–46,250)Age 6: typical 38,750 miles (middle half 26,250–56,250)Age 7: typical 43,750 miles (middle half 31,250–63,750)Age 8: typical 51,250 miles (middle half 33,750–71,250)Age 9: typical 56,250 miles (middle half 38,750–78,750)Age 10: typical 58,750 miles (middle half 41,250–83,750)Age 11: typical 61,250 miles (middle half 43,750–83,750)Age 12: typical 66,250 miles (middle half 46,250–86,250)Age 13: typical 68,750 miles (middle half 48,750–91,250)Age 14: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 53,750–98,750)Age 15: typical 78,750 miles (middle half 56,250–103,750)Age 16: typical 78,750 miles (middle half 56,250–103,750)Age 17: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 63,750–111,250)Age 18: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 63,750–113,750)Age 19: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 63,750–116,250)Age 20: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 61,250–113,750)88k mi

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

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
311,25018,75028,750
416,25026,25038,750
521,25031,25046,250
626,25038,75056,250
731,25043,75063,750
833,75051,25071,250
938,75056,25078,750
1041,25058,75083,750
1143,75061,25083,750
1246,25066,25086,250
1348,75068,75091,250
1453,75076,25098,750
1556,25078,750103,750
1656,25078,750103,750
1763,75086,250111,250
1863,75086,250113,750
1963,75088,750116,250
2061,25088,750113,750

What the SW area drives

The 12 most-tested makes at SW-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
Volkswagen18,53977.8%
Toyota11,44078.2%
Ford11,39074.2%
Audi10,71080.5%
BMW10,69981.2%
Mercedes-Benz10,01980.1%
Vauxhall8,35469.5%
MINI5,85076.6%
Nissan5,84771.7%
Land Rover4,99482.7%
Peugeot4,50773.3%
Honda3,74471.0%

MOT test centres in the SW area

77 DVSA-approved MOT test stations across the SW postcode area, 63 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
London — 74 centres
Ad Car Care Wimbledon LimitedUnit 1 & 2 Weir Road, Wimbledon, SW19 8UG02070 6294524, 5, 7
Amtec Motors Ltd26 Tulse Hill, Brixton, SW2 2TP02086 7171644
Auto Centre Tooting Limited882 Garratt Lane, Tooting, SW17 0NB02087 6771864
Auto Veto1112 London Road, Norbury, SW16 4DT07444 1414061, 2, 4, 5, 7
Autotech Of Wandsworth40-42 West Hill, Wandsworth, SW18 1RX02088 701366Not listed
B A Transport21 Pensbury Place, Wandsworth, SW8 4TP02077 2039371, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Benjamin At Grosvenor Garage LtdUnit 3, 42-44 Arundel Terrace, Barnes, SW13 8DS02088 7651504
Bmw Nine Elms102-104 Stewart Road, Battersea, SW8 4UY07866 3804921, 2, 4
Bmw Park Lane102-104 Stewart Road, Battersea, SW8 4UY07866 3804921, 2, 4
Capital Cars2-4 Pepys Road, Raynes Park, SW20 8NH02089 4628964
Chelsea Bridge Autocentre16 Havelock Terrace, Battersea, SW8 4AL02077 2038384, 7
Chelsea Honda84 Lille Road, Fulham, SW6 1TL02073 8595271, 2
Church Road Garage46-52 Church Road, Barnes, SW13 0DQ02085 638807Not listed
Clapham North Mot629 Cottage Grove, Clapham North, SW9 9NJ02072 7437721, 2, 3, 4
Commodore Motors LimitedPier Terrace, Wandsworth, SW18 1TB02088 7480224
D H MotorsR/o 146 Lavender Hill, Battersea, SW11 5RA02072 2381844
Dee Bee Mot Limited84/86 High Street, Colliers Wood, SW19 2BY02085 407163Not listed
Dovercourt Motor Company Ltd98 York Road, Battersea, SW11 3RD02079245544/6644Not listed
Duraida Limited1140-1142 London Road, Norbury, SW16 4DS07903 041507Not listed
Edilock Uk6 Armoury Way, Wandsworth, SW18 1SH02088 7077374
Fallsbrook Motors163 Fallsbrook Road, Streatham, SW16 6DY02087 6911844, 7
Farringdons Test Centre Limited4-12 Blakes Garages, The Mews, Hebdon Road Tooting, SW17 7NS02086 7292984
Ferndale Autos Ltd234a Ferndale Road, SW9 8AG02077 3833514
Firela Motors354 - 360 Clapham Road, Clapham, SW9 9AR02076 2278441, 2
Garys Shack Motors2a & 2b Hamilton Road Mews, Wimbledon, SW19 1BF02085 4499411, 2, 4
Goodmans GaragePensbury Place, SW8 4TR02074986478/ 7622 64444, 5, 7
Gsf Motor Works LimitedUnit E & F London Stone Business Estate, Broughton Street, Battersea, SW8 3QR020 7819 9555/97974, 5, 7
Halfords Autocentre57 Kingston Road, Wimbledon, SW19 1JN02085 4235574
Halfords Autocentres LimitedUnit 1 Merton Road Industrial Estate, 271 Merton Road, Southfields, SW18 5JS02088 7046974, 7
Itech Auto Centre3-7 Sunny Hill Road, Streatham, SW16 2UG02086 7743094, 7
Jack Barclay Service Centre65 Burr Road, Wandsworth, SW18 4SQ02033 7631464
Jmv Autos Ltd11 - 15 Lyon Road, South Wimbledon, SW19 2RL02085 4065374, 5, 7
K & J Garages (uk) Limited33 Sunnyhill Road, Streatham, SW16 2UG02087 6952551, 2, 4
Kwik Fit12 Kingston Road, Wimbledon, SW19 2QW02085 4202334
Kwik Fit41 Streatham High Road, Streatham, SW16 1ER02086 7778084
Leinster Motor Engineering Limited2a Leinster Avenue, East Sheen, SW14 7JP02088 7698784
London Ambulance Service (fulham)150 Seagrave Road, SW6 1RX07385 9784684, 5, 7
Londres Developments Limited137a Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, SW8 2LH02072 359900Not listed
Ma Autos Wimbledon19 Summerstown, SW17 0BQ02079 9861444
Mac Motorcycles180 High Street, Tooting, SW17 0SF02086 7246311, 2
Mayday Motors (roehampton) Limited228 Roehampton Lane, Roehampton, SW15 4LE02087 8909464
Mortlake Station Garage Limited29 Sheen Lane, Mortlake, SW14 8HY02088 7832854
Motech43-45 Mitcham Lane, Streatham, SW16 6LJ02087 6999494
Mwr Motors LimitedThe Arches, 11-12 Latchmere Road, Battersea, SW11 2DR02079 2424774
New Generation CarsElm Grove Industrial Estate, Elm Grove, Wimbledon, SW19 4HE02089 4600894
Norbury Service Centre Ltd1270 London Road, Norbury, SW16 4DH02086 7962334
Peter Norris (clapham) LimitedUnit 1 Ellerslie Square, 11 Lyham Road, Clapham, SW2 5DZ02077 3365204
Putney Service Centre Limited149a Church Road, Barnes, SW13 9HR02087 4888444
R & R Car ServicesUnit 15 Summerstown, SW17 0BQ02089 4617094, 5, 7
R B Motors642- 654 Streatham High Road, Streatham, SW16 3QL02087 6492214
Regina Motors201 Seely Road, Tooting, SW17 9RA02087 6972894
Rehan Cars Ltd648b Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, SW17 0NP02089 4628284
Riverside Yamaha139 Putney Bridge Road, Putney, SW15 2PA02030 7200091, 2
Russell Motors125/127 Falcon Road, Battersea, SW11 2PE02072 2817141, 2
Sai (wimbledon) Limited113a Hardy Road, Wimbledon, SW19 1JB02085 4234524
Sasa Motors273 Belinda Road, SW9 7DT07956 2620854
Sendon Garage Services LimitedArch 18a, Miles Street, SW8 1RZ02076 2276614
Shelby Vehicle Services407-411 New Kings Road, Fulham, SW6 4RL02077 3641734
Springbok Garage110 Totterdown Street, Tooting, SW17 8TA02086 7269044
Stellantis &you Wimbledon80 Plough Lane, Wimbledon, SW17 0BW02086 0593934, 7
Streathem Mot Station4 Ardwell Road, SW2 4BT07403 0446711, 2, 4
The German Motor Company62 Kimber Road, Wandsworth, SW18 4PP02088 7109224
Tooting Autocentre Limited69 Bickersteth Road, Tooting, SW17 9SH0208 8672 48914
Tooting Autocentre Limited70a Brightwell Crescent, Tooting, SW17 9AE02086 7248911, 2
Trust Ford Wimbledon67 Plough Lane, Wimbledon, SW17 0BW07980 0112724, 7
Wadham GarageArch 9, Deodar Road, Putney, SW15 2NG020 8870 9080 / 07864
Wandsworth Borough CouncilFrogmore Complex, Dormay Street, Wandsworth, SW18 1EY020 8871 6761/2Not listed
Wimbledon AudiUnit 4 Prince Georges Road, Merton Abbey, SW19 2PX02086 8756004
Wimbledon AutocentreUnit 15 Riverside Business Park, Lyon Road, Wimbledon, SW19 2RL02085 4406001, 2, 4, 5, 7
Wimbledon Garages Limited318 Haydons Road, Wimbledon, SW19 8JZ02085 4344554
Wimbledon Land Rover Service Centre LimitedBushey Road, Raynes Park, SW20 8BP02085 4343214
Wimbledon Mot Ltd163-167 Haydons Road, Wimbledon, SW19 8TB02085 420126Not listed
Wimbledon Town Garage68-70 Windsor Avenue, Wimbledon, SW19 2RR02085 4209994
Z Cars Engineering LimitedUnit 3, Parkfields Industrial Estate, Culvert Place, Battersea, SW11 5BA02076 2221014
Merton — 1 centre
Merton Autotechnics Limited17 Deer Park Road, SW19 3QG02085 4312331, 2, 4
Wandsworth — 1 centre
Kwik FitArmoury Way, SW18 1JZ02088 7113644
Wimbledon — 1 centre
Rb Car CareUnit 5, Jubilee Centre, Lombard Road, SW19 3TZ02084 1711224

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.