Where in Britain does the BMW 3 Series fail its MOT most?
Across Britain, 26.3% of 3,110,401 initial MOT tests (first attempts) of the BMW 3 Series failed in 2019–2024. It fails most in Torquay (TQ): 35.5% against 26.2% elsewhere (+9.2 points). It does best in Outer Hebrides (HS), −7.9 points. Area rates are not age-adjusted.
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · BMW 3 Series MOT statistics · check a BMW 3 Series by registration
BMW 3 Series in every postcode area with 100+ tests
From the largest excess over the rest of Britain to the largest shortfall.
| Area | Failed here, % | Rest of Britain, % | Difference, points | 95% interval | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torquay (TQ) | 35.5 | 26.2 | +9.2 | +8.4 to +10.0 | 14,095 |
| Plymouth (PL) | 35.3 | 26.2 | +9.2 | +8.6 to +9.7 | 32,597 |
| Exeter (EX) | 35.0 | 26.2 | +8.8 | +8.2 to +9.3 | 30,279 |
| Bath (BA) | 33.5 | 26.2 | +7.3 | +6.7 to +7.9 | 25,141 |
| Salisbury (SP) | 33.5 | 26.2 | +7.2 | +6.5 to +8.0 | 15,358 |
| Kirkcaldy (KY) | 33.5 | 26.2 | +7.2 | +6.4 to +8.0 | 14,048 |
| Truro (TR) | 33.5 | 26.2 | +7.2 | +6.5 to +7.9 | 18,270 |
| Bristol (BS) | 33.3 | 26.2 | +7.1 | +6.7 to +7.5 | 53,415 |
| Bournemouth (BH) | 33.2 | 26.2 | +7.0 | +6.5 to +7.5 | 33,779 |
| Llandrindod Wells (LD) | 33.0 | 26.3 | +6.7 | +4.2 to +9.2 | 1,361 |
| Taunton (TA) | 32.8 | 26.2 | +6.5 | +5.8 to +7.2 | 17,822 |
| Brighton (BN) | 32.6 | 26.2 | +6.4 | +6.0 to +6.9 | 36,821 |
| Portsmouth (PO) | 32.5 | 26.2 | +6.3 | +5.8 to +6.7 | 41,873 |
| Dundee (DD) | 32.3 | 26.3 | +6.1 | +5.2 to +7.0 | 10,823 |
| Dorchester (DT) | 31.6 | 26.3 | +5.3 | +4.5 to +6.2 | 11,382 |
| Gloucester (GL) | 31.2 | 26.2 | +5.0 | +4.5 to +5.5 | 35,412 |
| Cardiff (CF) | 30.2 | 26.2 | +4.0 | +3.5 to +4.4 | 41,425 |
| Canterbury (CT) | 30.2 | 26.3 | +4.0 | +3.3 to +4.6 | 21,980 |
| Hull (HU) | 30.1 | 26.3 | +3.8 | +3.1 to +4.5 | 16,930 |
| Lerwick (ZE) | 30.1 | 26.3 | +3.8 | −0.1 to +7.6 | 549 |
| Southampton (SO) | 29.7 | 26.2 | +3.5 | +3.0 to +3.9 | 40,072 |
| Northampton (NN) | 29.5 | 26.2 | +3.3 | +2.8 to +3.7 | 39,219 |
| Swindon (SN) | 29.3 | 26.3 | +3.0 | +2.5 to +3.6 | 28,683 |
| Swansea (SA) | 29.3 | 26.3 | +3.0 | +2.5 to +3.5 | 30,063 |
| Lincoln (LN) | 29.3 | 26.3 | +3.0 | +2.3 to +3.7 | 15,021 |
| Ipswich (IP) | 29.0 | 26.2 | +2.8 | +2.3 to +3.2 | 35,761 |
| Tonbridge (TN) | 28.9 | 26.2 | +2.7 | +2.2 to +3.1 | 36,760 |
| Newport (NP) | 28.9 | 26.3 | +2.6 | +2.1 to +3.2 | 24,328 |
| Aberdeen (AB) | 28.8 | 26.3 | +2.5 | +1.9 to +3.1 | 19,787 |
| Oxford (OX) | 28.5 | 26.3 | +2.3 | +1.8 to +2.8 | 33,677 |
| Guildford (GU) | 28.4 | 26.2 | +2.2 | +1.8 to +2.6 | 51,407 |
| Redhill (RH) | 28.1 | 26.3 | +1.9 | +1.4 to +2.3 | 33,379 |
| Blackpool (FY) | 28.0 | 26.3 | +1.7 | +1.0 to +2.4 | 14,982 |
| Edinburgh (EH) | 27.9 | 26.3 | +1.6 | +1.1 to +2.1 | 32,620 |
| Colchester (CO) | 27.9 | 26.3 | +1.6 | +1.0 to +2.2 | 22,042 |
| Sunderland (SR) | 27.9 | 26.3 | +1.6 | +0.6 to +2.6 | 7,883 |
| Lancaster (LA) | 27.6 | 26.3 | +1.4 | +0.6 to +2.2 | 12,873 |
| Cambridge (CB) | 27.5 | 26.3 | +1.3 | +0.7 to +1.8 | 22,465 |
| Telford (TF) | 27.4 | 26.3 | +1.2 | +0.3 to +2.0 | 10,778 |
| Paisley (PA) | 27.4 | 26.3 | +1.1 | +0.2 to +2.1 | 9,393 |
| Watford (WD) | 27.4 | 26.3 | +1.1 | +0.4 to +1.8 | 15,342 |
| York (YO) | 27.3 | 26.3 | +1.0 | +0.5 to +1.6 | 23,668 |
| Chester (CH) | 27.3 | 26.3 | +1.0 | +0.5 to +1.5 | 33,707 |
| Medway (ME) | 27.2 | 26.3 | +1.0 | +0.5 to +1.4 | 33,159 |
| Reading (RG) | 27.0 | 26.3 | +0.7 | +0.3 to +1.1 | 56,158 |
| Norwich (NR) | 26.9 | 26.3 | +0.6 | +0.1 to +1.1 | 34,499 |
| Stoke-on-Trent (ST) | 26.6 | 26.3 | +0.4 | −0.2 to +0.9 | 27,231 |
| Galashiels (TD) | 26.5 | 26.3 | +0.2 | −1.4 to +1.8 | 3,085 |
| Walsall (WS) | 26.5 | 26.3 | +0.2 | −0.4 to +0.8 | 20,234 |
| Llandudno (LL) | 26.4 | 26.3 | +0.1 | −0.5 to +0.6 | 26,550 |
| Kirkwall (KW) | 26.3 | 26.3 | +0.1 | −2.0 to +2.2 | 1,678 |
| Milton Keynes (MK) | 26.2 | 26.3 | −0.1 | −0.5 to +0.4 | 35,201 |
| Wigan (WN) | 26.2 | 26.3 | −0.1 | −0.9 to +0.7 | 12,494 |
| Stockport (SK) | 26.2 | 26.3 | −0.1 | −0.6 to +0.4 | 31,089 |
| Shrewsbury (SY) | 26.1 | 26.3 | −0.1 | −0.8 to +0.5 | 18,215 |
| Peterborough (PE) | 26.1 | 26.3 | −0.2 | −0.5 to +0.2 | 62,608 |
| Falkirk (FK) | 26.1 | 26.3 | −0.2 | −1.0 to +0.7 | 10,455 |
| London SW (SW) | 26.0 | 26.3 | −0.3 | −0.9 to +0.3 | 21,285 |
| Worcester (WR) | 25.9 | 26.3 | −0.4 | −1.1 to +0.3 | 15,554 |
| St Albans (AL) | 25.7 | 26.3 | −0.6 | −1.4 to +0.2 | 11,920 |
| Crewe (CW) | 25.7 | 26.3 | −0.6 | −1.3 to +0.1 | 16,900 |
| Wolverhampton (WV) | 25.6 | 26.3 | −0.6 | −1.2 to −0.1 | 22,250 |
| Stevenage (SG) | 25.6 | 26.3 | −0.7 | −1.3 to −0.1 | 21,760 |
| Hereford (HR) | 25.4 | 26.3 | −0.9 | −1.7 to +0.0 | 9,652 |
| Darlington (DL) | 25.3 | 26.3 | −1.0 | −1.8 to −0.3 | 13,434 |
| Preston (PR) | 25.2 | 26.3 | −1.1 | −1.6 to −0.6 | 29,420 |
| Hemel Hempstead (HP) | 25.2 | 26.3 | −1.1 | −1.5 to −0.6 | 35,637 |
| Perth (PH) | 24.9 | 26.3 | −1.3 | −2.4 to −0.2 | 5,991 |
| Harrow (HA) | 24.9 | 26.3 | −1.4 | −1.9 to −0.9 | 28,340 |
| Kilmarnock (KA) | 24.9 | 26.3 | −1.4 | −2.1 to −0.7 | 13,549 |
| Chelmsford (CM) | 24.9 | 26.3 | −1.4 | −1.8 to −0.9 | 34,498 |
| Warrington (WA) | 24.7 | 26.3 | −1.6 | −2.0 to −1.1 | 32,862 |
| Manchester (M) | 24.7 | 26.3 | −1.6 | −2.0 to −1.2 | 50,039 |
| Inverness (IV) | 24.7 | 26.3 | −1.6 | −2.5 to −0.7 | 8,351 |
| Dudley (DY) | 24.7 | 26.3 | −1.6 | −2.3 to −1.0 | 16,321 |
| London W (W) | 24.6 | 26.3 | −1.7 | −2.4 to −0.9 | 13,398 |
| Derby (DE) | 24.6 | 26.3 | −1.7 | −2.1 to −1.2 | 38,225 |
| Glasgow (G) | 24.5 | 26.3 | −1.8 | −2.2 to −1.4 | 43,374 |
| Harrogate (HG) | 24.4 | 26.3 | −1.9 | −2.8 to −0.9 | 7,660 |
| London N (N) | 24.4 | 26.3 | −1.9 | −2.4 to −1.4 | 30,178 |
| Carlisle (CA) | 24.3 | 26.3 | −2.0 | −2.7 to −1.3 | 14,395 |
| Leeds (LS) | 24.3 | 26.3 | −2.0 | −2.4 to −1.5 | 32,143 |
| Bolton (BL) | 24.2 | 26.3 | −2.1 | −2.7 to −1.5 | 22,224 |
| Dartford (DA) | 24.2 | 26.3 | −2.1 | −2.7 to −1.6 | 23,207 |
| Cleveland (TS) | 24.0 | 26.3 | −2.3 | −2.8 to −1.8 | 27,438 |
| Luton (LU) | 23.9 | 26.3 | −2.4 | −2.9 to −1.8 | 27,206 |
| Romford (RM) | 23.9 | 26.3 | −2.4 | −2.9 to −1.9 | 31,838 |
| Doncaster (DN) | 23.9 | 26.3 | −2.4 | −2.9 to −2.0 | 40,366 |
| Southend-on-Sea (SS) | 23.8 | 26.3 | −2.5 | −3.0 to −2.0 | 28,952 |
| Nottingham (NG) | 23.8 | 26.3 | −2.5 | −2.9 to −2.2 | 62,823 |
| Croydon (CR) | 23.7 | 26.3 | −2.6 | −3.1 to −2.1 | 27,438 |
| Huddersfield (HD) | 23.7 | 26.3 | −2.6 | −3.4 to −1.8 | 10,495 |
| Liverpool (L) | 23.5 | 26.3 | −2.8 | −3.3 to −2.3 | 31,961 |
| Motherwell (ML) | 23.4 | 26.3 | −2.9 | −3.6 to −2.2 | 13,898 |
| Kingston upon Thames (KT) | 23.4 | 26.3 | −2.9 | −3.4 to −2.4 | 32,662 |
| Coventry (CV) | 23.3 | 26.3 | −3.1 | −3.4 to −2.7 | 51,007 |
| Leicester (LE) | 23.1 | 26.3 | −3.2 | −3.6 to −2.9 | 58,580 |
| London SE (SE) | 23.0 | 26.3 | −3.3 | −3.8 to −2.9 | 36,217 |
| Sheffield (S) | 22.9 | 26.3 | −3.4 | −3.8 to −3.1 | 60,432 |
| Dumfries (DG) | 22.8 | 26.3 | −3.5 | −4.6 to −2.5 | 6,058 |
| Oldham (OL) | 22.8 | 26.3 | −3.5 | −4.1 to −3.0 | 20,573 |
| Slough (SL) | 22.8 | 26.3 | −3.6 | −4.0 to −3.1 | 33,665 |
| Newcastle (NE) | 22.7 | 26.3 | −3.6 | −4.0 to −3.2 | 46,160 |
| Uxbridge (UB) | 22.7 | 26.3 | −3.6 | −4.1 to −3.1 | 30,797 |
| London NW (NW) | 22.7 | 26.3 | −3.6 | −4.1 to −3.2 | 30,007 |
| Ilford (IG) | 22.6 | 26.3 | −3.7 | −4.3 to −3.2 | 22,400 |
| Twickenham (TW) | 22.6 | 26.3 | −3.7 | −4.2 to −3.3 | 31,544 |
| Birmingham (B) | 22.6 | 26.4 | −3.8 | −4.1 to −3.6 | 111,139 |
| Bradford (BD) | 22.5 | 26.3 | −3.8 | −4.3 to −3.3 | 25,469 |
| London E (E) | 22.3 | 26.3 | −4.0 | −4.4 to −3.6 | 39,108 |
| Halifax (HX) | 21.9 | 26.3 | −4.4 | −5.5 to −3.4 | 5,839 |
| Wakefield (WF) | 21.8 | 26.3 | −4.5 | −5.0 to −4.1 | 27,351 |
| Bromley (BR) | 21.5 | 26.3 | −4.8 | −5.5 to −4.0 | 12,402 |
| Sutton (SM) | 21.4 | 26.3 | −4.9 | −5.8 to −4.0 | 8,600 |
| Blackburn (BB) | 21.1 | 26.3 | −5.2 | −5.7 to −4.8 | 28,368 |
| Durham (DH) | 20.4 | 26.3 | −5.9 | −6.6 to −5.2 | 12,001 |
| Enfield (EN) | 19.4 | 26.3 | −7.0 | −7.5 to −6.4 | 23,957 |
| Outer Hebrides (HS) | 18.3 | 26.3 | −7.9 | −10.6 to −5.3 | 796 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,110,401 (initial tests) · Method: postcode area of the testing station against the same model's tests elsewhere in Britain, difference of two proportions with a 95% interval; named at 3+ points with the interval clear of zero; not age-adjusted · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
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