1981 MG B Gt — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

73.5%

Latest Pass Rate

4,214

Total Tests (All Years)

55,823 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1981 MG B Gt as it ages.

28 yrs60.2%

→ ↓0.0%

29 yrs60.2%

→ ↑7.2%

30 yrs67.4%

→ ↓5.3%

31 yrs62.1%

→ ↑1.2%

32 yrs63.3%

→ ↑3.4%

33 yrs66.7%

→ ↓1.9%

34 yrs64.8%

→ ↑1.6%

35 yrs66.4%

→ ↓0.8%

36 yrs65.6%

→ ↑2.4%

37 yrs68.0%

→ ↓4.2%

38 yrs63.8%

→ ↑9.0%

39 yrs72.8%

→ ↓5.9%

40 yrs66.9%

→ ↑11.0%

41 yrs77.9%

→ ↓5.3%

42 yrs72.6%

→ ↑0.9%

43 yrs73.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	60.2%	374
29 yrs	60.2%	379
30 yrs	67.4%	365
31 yrs	62.1%	364
32 yrs	63.3%	341
33 yrs	66.7%	357
34 yrs	64.8%	341
35 yrs	66.4%	333
36 yrs	65.6%	308
37 yrs	68.0%	228
38 yrs	63.8%	213
39 yrs	72.8%	169
40 yrs	66.9%	178
41 yrs	77.9%	86
42 yrs	72.6%	95
43 yrs	73.5%	83

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 MG B Gt pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (43 yrs)	73.5%	83
2023 (42 yrs)	72.6%	95
2022 (41 yrs)	77.9%	86
2021 (40 yrs)	66.9%	178
2020 (39 yrs)	72.8%	169
2019 (38 yrs)	63.8%	213
2018 (37 yrs)	68%	228
2017 (36 yrs)	65.6%	308
2016 (35 yrs)	66.4%	333
2015 (34 yrs)	64.8%	341
2014 (33 yrs)	66.7%	357
2013 (32 yrs)	63.3%	341
2012 (31 yrs)	62.1%	364
2011 (30 yrs)	67.4%	365
2010 (29 yrs)	60.2%	379
2009 (28 yrs)	60.2%	374

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 374Avg Mileage 51,486Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.5%

2010High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 379Avg Mileage 51,745Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.6%

2011

67.4%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 365Avg Mileage 51,752Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%

2012High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 364Avg Mileage 56,228Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.6%

2013High Fail Rate

63.3%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 341Avg Mileage 55,751Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.6%

2014

66.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 357Avg Mileage 53,068Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.6%

2015High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 341Avg Mileage 50,974Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.9%

2016

66.4%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 333Avg Mileage 51,632Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.1%

2017

65.6%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 308Avg Mileage 54,416Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.4%

2018

68.0%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 228Avg Mileage 49,887Top Failure Suspension — 41.2%

2019High Fail Rate

63.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 213Avg Mileage 51,341Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 35.7%

2020

72.8%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 169Avg Mileage 51,965Top Failure Brakes — 30.2%

2021

66.9%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 178Avg Mileage 50,681Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 38.2%

2022

77.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 86Avg Mileage 46,062Top Failure Suspension — 22.1%

2023

72.6%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 95Avg Mileage 52,808Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 27.4%

2024

73.5%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 83Avg Mileage 55,823Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 25.3%

MOT results for 1981 MG B Gt by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	60.2%	374	51,486	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.5%
2010	29	60.2%	379	51,745	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.6%
2011	30	67.4%	365	51,752	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%
2012	31	62.1%	364	56,228	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.6%
2013	32	63.3%	341	55,751	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.6%
2014	33	66.7%	357	53,068	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.6%
2015	34	64.8%	341	50,974	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.9%
2016	35	66.4%	333	51,632	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.1%
2017	36	65.6%	308	54,416	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.4%
2018	37	68.0%	228	49,887	Suspension — 41.2%
2019	38	63.8%	213	51,341	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 35.7%
2020	39	72.8%	169	51,965	Brakes — 30.2%
2021	40	66.9%	178	50,681	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 38.2%
2022	41	77.9%	86	46,062	Suspension — 22.1%
2023	42	72.6%	95	52,808	Noise, emissions and leaks — 27.4%
2024	43	73.5%	83	55,823	Noise, emissions and leaks — 25.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 MG B Gt, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

30.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

25.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

24.3%

— Consistent

Noise, emissions and leaks

22.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

22.1%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	20.6% (28 yrs)	12.0% (43 yrs)	-8.6%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	16.6% (28 yrs)	12.0% (43 yrs)	-4.6%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981

← Back to MG B Gt overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the MG B Gt page →

About This Data

This page shows how MG B Gt cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 4,214 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.