1981 MG Bgt — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

67.7%

Latest Pass Rate

646

Total Tests (All Years)

53,431 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 Bgt as it ages.

28 yrs61.5%

→ ↑5.7%

29 yrs67.2%

→ ↓7.2%

30 yrs60.0%

→ ↓4.1%

31 yrs55.9%

→ ↑9.3%

32 yrs65.2%

→ ↑5.5%

33 yrs70.7%

→ ↑2.8%

34 yrs73.5%

→ ↓5.6%

35 yrs67.9%

→ ↓7.1%

36 yrs60.8%

→ ↑17.3%

37 yrs78.1%

→ ↓11.4%

38 yrs66.7%

→ ↑1.0%

40 yrs67.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	61.5%	65
29 yrs	67.2%	58
30 yrs	60.0%	60
31 yrs	55.9%	68
32 yrs	65.2%	69
33 yrs	70.7%	58
34 yrs	73.5%	68
35 yrs	67.9%	53
36 yrs	60.8%	51
37 yrs	78.1%	32
38 yrs	66.7%	33
40 yrs	67.7%	31

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (40 yrs)	67.7%	31
2019 (38 yrs)	66.7%	33
2018 (37 yrs)	78.1%	32
2017 (36 yrs)	60.8%	51
2016 (35 yrs)	67.9%	53
2015 (34 yrs)	73.5%	68
2014 (33 yrs)	70.7%	58
2013 (32 yrs)	65.2%	69
2012 (31 yrs)	55.9%	68
2011 (30 yrs)	60%	60
2010 (29 yrs)	67.2%	58
2009 (28 yrs)	61.5%	65

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 65Avg Mileage 46,511Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.2%

2010

67.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 58Avg Mileage 50,183Top Failure Suspension — 19.0%

2011High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 60Avg Mileage 55,223Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%

2012High Fail Rate

55.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 68Avg Mileage 55,249Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 25.0%

2013

65.2%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 69Avg Mileage 45,636Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.9%

2014

70.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 58Avg Mileage 48,246Top Failure Brakes — 43.1%

2015

73.5%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 68Avg Mileage 50,830Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.5%

2016

67.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 53Avg Mileage 54,350Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.6%

2017High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 51Avg Mileage 53,576Top Failure Brakes — 37.3%

2018

78.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 32Avg Mileage 49,489Top Failure Steering — 21.9%

2019

66.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 33Avg Mileage 52,671Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 24.2%

2021

67.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 31Avg Mileage 53,431Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 48.4%

MOT results for 1981 MG Bgt by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	61.5%	65	46,511	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.2%
2010	29	67.2%	58	50,183	Suspension — 19.0%
2011	30	60.0%	60	55,223	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%
2012	31	55.9%	68	55,249	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 25.0%
2013	32	65.2%	69	45,636	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.9%
2014	33	70.7%	58	48,246	Brakes — 43.1%
2015	34	73.5%	68	50,830	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.5%
2016	35	67.9%	53	54,350	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.6%
2017	36	60.8%	51	53,576	Brakes — 37.3%
2018	37	78.1%	32	49,489	Steering — 21.9%
2019	38	66.7%	33	52,671	Noise, emissions and leaks — 24.2%
2021	40	67.7%	31	53,431	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 48.4%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

31.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

25.0%

— Consistent

Brakes

22.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

18.7%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	16.9% (28 yrs)	38.7% (40 yrs)	+21.8%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	13.8% (28 yrs)	22.6% (40 yrs)	+8.8%	🔴 ↑
Steering	6.2% (28 yrs)	12.9% (40 yrs)	+6.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

← Back to MG Bgt overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG Bgt cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 646 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.