MOT pass rates in Portsmouth (PO postcode area)
In 2025, 448,393 cars and vans took their MOT at test stations in the PO postcode area — and 67.1% passed first time. That ranks Portsmouth 105 of 118 UK postcode areas, with a first-attempt failure rate of 32.9% against a national average of 27.9% (5.0 points worse than the country as a whole).
Testing here soon? Check your MOT due date free and run the 10-minute pre-test checklist first.
MOT test centres in the PO area
Frequently asked questions
Why do pass rates differ between areas?
Vehicle age is the biggest driver — areas with older cars fail more often — along with mileage patterns, road conditions and local incomes. The test itself is the same everywhere, and the fee is capped by law at £54.85 for a car.
Does this mean garages in Portsmouth are stricter?
No — these figures reflect the vehicles being tested, not tester behaviour. Wherever you test, the same DVSA inspection manual applies.
Where does this data come from?
DVSA's anonymised MOT results for 2025 (Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0), aggregated by the postcode area of the test station. See the full methodology.