MOT pass rates in Watford

131,737 cars took a first MOT at test centres in the WD postcode area in 2025. The WD postcode area covers Watford and the towns around it — Rickmansworth, Borehamwood, Bushey, Kings Langley and Abbots Langley 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
74.0%
1.7 points above the class-4 average (72.3%); reflects the mix of cars tested here
Tests analysed
131,737
first tests, 2025
Average car age at test
9.8 yrs
national average 10.7 yrs
Arrived with a dangerous fault
6.8%
of WD-area first tests; national 7.3%

How Watford 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
#39 highest
74.0% of first tests passed, of the 116 areas
Fleet age
#101 oldest
average 9.8 yrs at test, of the 116 areas
Electric share
#7 highest
3.8% of first tests were electric cars, of the 116 areas
Tests done
#102 busiest
131,737 first tests in 2025, of the 116 areas

The area's signature make

Of the twelve most-tested makes at WD-area test centres, Honda is the one tested furthest above its national share: 4.4% of WD-area first tests against 2.7% of tests nationally — 1.6 times its national rate. That is a fact about what the area drives, not a claim about the make.

Watford and its neighbours

Watford and seven neighbouring postcode areas, 2025. Pass rates are unadjusted for fleet age and mix.

AreaFirst tests Pass rateAvg ageElectric
WD (Watford)131,73774.0%9.8 yrs3.8%
AL (St Albans)147,25476.0%10.2 yrs3.1%
EN (Enfield)195,43578.3%10.4 yrs2.7%
HA (Harrow)200,04078.5%10.5 yrs4.0%
HP (Hemel Hempstead)321,23275.3%10.9 yrs2.7%
NW (North West London)222,60578.7%9.6 yrs7.8%
SL (Slough)238,85578.5%11.0 yrs3.3%
UB (Southall)204,59979.3%10.7 yrs3.7%

Pass rate by car age — WD area vs national

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, 2025.

Watford (WD) areaAll of Britain
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)WD area, vehicle age 3: 86.3%WD area, vehicle age 4: 85.4%WD area, vehicle age 5: 84.1%WD area, vehicle age 6: 82%WD area, vehicle age 7: 79%WD area, vehicle age 8: 77.2%WD area, vehicle age 9: 74.5%WD area, vehicle age 10: 72.6%WD area, vehicle age 11: 70.1%WD area, vehicle age 12: 66.7%WD area, vehicle age 13: 63%WD area, vehicle age 14: 60.4%WD area, vehicle age 15: 61.2%WD area, vehicle age 16: 58.3%WD area, vehicle age 17: 59%WD area, vehicle age 18: 58.3%WD area, vehicle age 19: 60.1%WD area, vehicle age 20: 59.7%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%WD area 59.7%All of Britain 57.6%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)WD area testsWD area pass rateAll cars
310,62886.3%88.5%
410,00985.4%87.2%
59,16084.1%86.0%
611,63482.0%83.5%
711,28179.0%80.9%
811,11977.2%78.2%
910,36674.5%74.9%
108,90772.6%71.9%
117,30570.1%68.6%
126,12466.7%65.8%
135,22563.0%63.5%
144,67560.4%61.2%
154,49561.2%59.3%
163,88758.3%58.3%
173,34259.0%57.2%
183,10858.3%57.4%
192,38060.1%57.0%
201,80759.7%57.6%

Better or worse than the national average?

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

WD area aheadWD area behind
-4-2+0+2+4Age 3: -2.2 points vs the average car3Age 4: -1.8 points vs the average carAge 5: -1.9 points vs the average car5Age 6: -1.5 points vs the average carAge 7: -1.9 points vs the average car7Age 8: -1.0 points vs the average carAge 9: -0.4 points vs the average car9Age 10: +0.7 points vs the average carAge 11: +1.5 points vs the average car11Age 12: +0.9 points vs the average carAge 13: -0.5 points vs the average car13Age 14: -0.8 points vs the average carAge 15: +1.9 points vs the average car15Age 16: +0.0 points vs the average carAge 17: +1.8 points vs the average car17Age 18: +0.9 points vs the average carAge 19: +3.1 points vs the average car19Age 20: +2.1 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3-2.2
4-1.8
5-1.9
6-1.5
7-1.9
8-1.0
9-0.4
10+0.7
11+1.5
12+0.9
13-0.5
14-0.8
15+1.9
16+0.0
17+1.8
18+0.9
19+3.1
20+2.1

The cars tested around Watford, by age

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

05k10k15k20kAge 3: 10k3Age 4: 10kAge 5: 9k5Age 6: 11kAge 7: 11k7Age 8: 11kAge 9: 10k9Age 10: 8kAge 11: 7k11Age 12: 6kAge 13: 5k13Age 14: 4kAge 15: 4k15Age 16: 3kAge 17: 3k17Age 18: 3kAge 19: 2k19Age 20: 1k20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
310,628
410,009
59,160
611,634
711,281
811,119
910,366
108,907
117,305
126,124
135,225
144,675
154,495
163,887
173,342
183,108
192,380
201,807

What cars fail on around Watford

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

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment28.9%
Tyres16.8%
Suspension16.3%
Brakes11.8%
Visibility8.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks6.1%
Body, chassis, structure4.5%
Steering2.9%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (96.1% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

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

Tyres: 34.6% of advisories34.6%Brakes: 24.5% of advisories24.5%Suspension: 19.6% of advisories19.6%Non-component advisories: 7.1% of advisories7.1%Noise, emissions and leaks: 4.4% of advisoriesIdentification of the vehicle: 2.9% of advisories
TyresBrakesSuspensionNon-component advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaksIdentification of the vehicle
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Tyres34.6%
Brakes24.5%
Suspension19.6%
Non-component advisories7.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.4%
Identification of the vehicle2.9%

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric?

First-time pass rate for the five most-tested fuel types in the WD 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: 73.4% of 81,511 tests73.4%Petrol81,511 testsDiesel: 71.5% of 32,877 tests71.5%Diesel32,877 testsHybrid electric: 81.8% of 11,776 tests81.8%Hybrid11,776 testsElectric: 81.0% of 4,968 tests81.0%Electric4,968 testsElectric diesel: 81.5% of 536 tests81.5%Electric diesel536 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol81,51173.4%
Diesel32,87771.5%
Hybrid electric11,77681.8%
Electric4,96881.0%
Electric diesel53681.5%

What mileage is normal around Watford?

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

Typical car, WD area (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k150k3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 21,250 miles (middle half 13,750–31,250)Age 4: typical 28,750 miles (middle half 21,250–41,250)Age 5: typical 36,250 miles (middle half 23,750–48,750)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 63,750 miles (middle half 43,750–83,750)Age 10: typical 66,250 miles (middle half 46,250–88,750)Age 11: typical 71,250 miles (middle half 48,750–93,750)Age 12: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 53,750–98,750)Age 13: typical 78,750 miles (middle half 58,750–106,250)Age 14: typical 83,750 miles (middle half 61,250–113,750)Age 15: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 63,750–116,250)Age 16: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 63,750–116,250)Age 17: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 68,750–123,750)Age 18: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 71,250–126,250)Age 19: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 68,750–128,750)Age 20: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 68,750–131,250)96k mi

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

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
313,75021,25031,250
421,25028,75041,250
523,75036,25048,750
628,75041,25056,250
733,75048,75066,250
838,75056,25076,250
943,75063,75083,750
1046,25066,25088,750
1148,75071,25093,750
1253,75076,25098,750
1358,75078,750106,250
1461,25083,750113,750
1563,75088,750116,250
1663,75088,750116,250
1768,75096,250123,750
1871,25096,250126,250
1968,75096,250128,750
2068,75096,250131,250

What the WD area drives

The 12 most-tested makes at WD-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
Ford13,22669.3%
Volkswagen11,50074.8%
BMW10,47778.0%
Vauxhall8,97666.8%
Mercedes-Benz8,95076.6%
Audi8,49180.5%
Toyota8,48573.5%
Nissan6,64067.7%
Honda5,76772.4%
Kia4,96177.0%
MINI4,29278.2%
Hyundai4,13272.9%

MOT test centres in the WD area

64 DVSA-approved MOT test stations across the WD postcode area, 58 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
Watford — 42 centres
1st Motorbike RepairsUnit 15 Riverside Works, Riverside Road, WD19 4HY07841 9156511, 2
Abbots GarageBreakspear Road, Abbots Langley, WD5 0ER01923 2605004
Advance Motors Ltd329 St Albans Road, WD24 6PL01923 8130004
Advanced Autos (watford) LtdPark Avenue, Bushey, WD23 2GD01923 2472624
Asl Executive LtdUnit 1d Greycaine Road, WD24 7GP01923 5475834, 5, 7
Autoelite LtdUnit 2, 8 Colonial Way, WD24 4PT01923 2325414
Brayleys Cars Limited46-52 High Road, Bushey Heath, WD23 1GQ02089 5033114
Bushey Hall Garage LtdBushey Hall Drive, Bushey, WD23 2QE01923 2371354
Bushey Heath Garage Ltd6-10 High Road, Bushey Heath, WD23 1SE02084 2051004
Citygate WatfordOtterspool Way, WD25 8HL08445 5858584
Cousins Garage Ltd9 Mowat Industrial Estate, Sandown Road, WD24 7UY01923 2228174
Eds Garage25-29 Harwoods Road, WD18 7RB01923 2500834
Exan Autos Ltd7 - 9 Bushey Hall Road, Bushey, WD23 2EB01923 2331674
Fairway Tyre & Auto Services (watford) LtdUnit 1, 11 Colonial Way, WD24 4PT01923 2410454, 7
Falcon Autotech36a Queen Marys Avenue, WD18 7JP01923 2546294, 5, 7
Glyn Hopkin Ltd252-272 Lower High Street, WD17 2JJ01923 2155554
Halfords AutocentreUnits 1, 2 & 3a, Fisher Industrial Estate, Wiggenhall Road, WD18 0FN01923 8051354
Halfords AutocentreUnit 1, 16 Greycaine Road, WD24 7GP01923 5873044
Hartwell Watford200 Rickmansworth Road, WD18 7JS01923 2205504, 5, 7
Johnson Motors5 Moor Park Ind Centre, Tolpits Lane, WD18 9SP01923 2331114
Junction Motors Watford Ltd1a Garnett Close, WD24 7GL01923 8163954, 7
Kwik - Fit5 Bushey Mill Lane, WD24 7QT01923 2282824
Kwik FitWatford Arches Retail Park, WD17 2JJ01923 2498924
L E Cramer Motor Engineers Ltd16 Bushey Hall Road, WD23 2EA01923 2543184
Mastertronic Vhicle Solutions LtdUnit 2a, 6 Greycaine Road, WD24 7GP07850 5010984, 7
Mercedes Benz Of WatfordColne Bridge Retail Park, Lower High Street, WD17 2JG01923 6912604
Milcars MazdaOtterspool Way, WD25 8HL01923 2577774
Motstop PlusUnit 8, Finway Court, Whippendell Road, WD18 7EN01923 2432774
Multi SitesLower High Street, WD17 2JX01923 7015574
Renault Watford3 Green Hill Crescent, Watford Business Park, WD18 8JG01923 4863004
Rickmansworth Sports Cars LtdOxhey Drive, WD19 7SE02084 2141004
S & B MotorsUnit P2, Penfold Trading Estate, Imperial Way, WD24 4YY02089 5235604
S & N Service LtdBermer House, Bermer Road, Imperial Way, WD24 4XX01923 8190611, 2, 4, 7
Spire Bmw WatfordUnit 4, Odhams Trading Estate, St Albans Road, WD24 7RY01923 4781814
Swift Services34 Marlin Square, Abbots Langley, WD5 0EG01923 2604291, 2, 3, 4
T & F Motors LtdUnit 1 Greycaine Road, WD24 7GP01923 236301Not listed
T H Motorsport LtdUnit D, 18 Caxton Way, Watford Business Park, WD18 8UA01923 2374444, 5, 7
Tolpits MotorsTolpits Garage, 1 Tolpits Lane, WD18 7QG01923 2251264
Trident Bmss Ltd504 Bushey Mill Lane, WD23 2AS01923 2203001, 2
Vicarage Road Service Station Llp58b Vicarage Road, WD18 0EN01923 2319684
Watford AudiOtterspool Way, WD25 8HL01923 2028004
Ye Corner Tyres LimitedUnit 21a Tolpits Lane, Moor Park Industrial Estate, WD18 9SP01923 5105064, 5, 7
Borehamwood — 6 centres
Goodmans AutosRear Of 16-20 Shenley Road, Along Side The Alfred Arms Public House, WD6 1DS02089533005/ 26621, 2, 4
Halfords Autocentres LtdUnit 2, Elstree Trade Park, Elstree Way, WD6 1FX02083 8156614, 7
J & M MotorsGlenhaven Avenue, WD6 1BB02089 534501Not listed
Kwik-FitBullhead Road, Elstree Way, WD6 1LB02082 0718204
Motortek LtdUnit 11, Hamilton Business Park, Stirling Way, WD6 2FR02089 5344431, 2, 5, 7
Spire Bmw Stirling CornerChester Road, WD6 1LT02087 3142004
Kings Langley — 6 centres
Imperial Auto Services LtdUnit 6 Langley Wharf, Railway Terrace, WD4 8JE01923 2388304, 5, 7
J Hollick LtdUnit 1, 28 Rucklers Lane, WD4 8AU01923 2666624
JapexUnit 3 Happy Valley Industrial Park, Primrose Hill, WD4 8HD01923 2607074
Langley AutocraftUnits Afg, Happy Valley Industrial Estate, Primrose Hill, WD4 8HD01923 2694564
Langley Car & Commercial LimitedPrimrose Hill, WD4 8HR01923 2647691, 2, 4, 5, 7
Tower Hill GarageTower Hill Garage, Tower Hill, Chipperfield, WD4 9LR01923 2627014
Rickmansworth — 4 centres
Biggerstaffs GarageGreen End, Sarratt, WD3 6AR01923 2625914
Fairway Tyre & Auto Services (rickmansworth)90 Uxbridge Road, Mill End, WD3 8BW01923 7210081, 2, 4, 7
Motor Masters1 Colne Cottage, Old Uxbridge Road, West Hyde, WD3 9YB01895 8258764
New Road Service Station46-50 New Road, Croxley Green, WD3 3EP01923 7751441, 2, 4
Radlett — 2 centres
Evolution (radlett) LtdUnit 1 The Fruit Farm, Common Lane, WD7 8PW02089 529532Not listed
Frogmore Garage LtdUnit 8, Ivorys Estate, Harper Lane, WD7 7HU01923 8554664, 5, 7
Abbots Langley — 1 centre
Longhouse Service Station56 High Street, Bedmond, WD5 0RH01923 2674774, 5, 7
Bushey — 1 centre
Kipling Motorist Centre152 High Street, WD23 3DH02089 5088584
Chorleywood — 1 centre
Heronsgate Motors LtdHeronsgate Road, WD3 5BW01923 2822654
Hertfordshire — 1 centre
Motosolve96/98 Cecil Street, Watford, WD24 5AP07850 3596681, 2, 4

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.