1981 MG Mgb — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

61.3%

Latest Pass Rate

511

Total Tests (All Years)

45,774 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 Mgb as it ages.

28 yrs70.7%

→ ↓6.3%

29 yrs64.4%

→ ↑6.4%

30 yrs70.8%

→ ↑3.6%

31 yrs74.4%

→ ↓3.6%

32 yrs70.8%

→ ↑7.5%

33 yrs78.3%

→ ↓12.3%

34 yrs66.0%

→ ↓0.8%

35 yrs65.2%

→ ↑5.0%

36 yrs70.2%

→ ↑2.0%

37 yrs72.2%

→ ↓2.5%

38 yrs69.7%

→ ↓8.4%

40 yrs61.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	70.7%	41
29 yrs	64.4%	45
30 yrs	70.8%	48
31 yrs	74.4%	43
32 yrs	70.8%	48
33 yrs	78.3%	46
34 yrs	66.0%	47
35 yrs	65.2%	46
36 yrs	70.2%	47
37 yrs	72.2%	36
38 yrs	69.7%	33
40 yrs	61.3%	31

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (40 yrs)	61.3%	31
2019 (38 yrs)	69.7%	33
2018 (37 yrs)	72.2%	36
2017 (36 yrs)	70.2%	47
2016 (35 yrs)	65.2%	46
2015 (34 yrs)	66%	47
2014 (33 yrs)	78.3%	46
2013 (32 yrs)	70.8%	48
2012 (31 yrs)	74.4%	43
2011 (30 yrs)	70.8%	48
2010 (29 yrs)	64.4%	45
2009 (28 yrs)	70.7%	41

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

70.7%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 41Avg Mileage 50,298Top Failure Brakes — 19.5%

2010High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 45Avg Mileage 50,686Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.4%

2011

70.8%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 48Avg Mileage 50,382Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.6%

2012

74.4%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 43Avg Mileage 52,643Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.0%

2013

70.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 48Avg Mileage 49,401Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.6%

2014

78.3%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 46Avg Mileage 50,422Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.3%

2015

66.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 47Avg Mileage 53,055Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.3%

2016

65.2%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 46Avg Mileage 48,760Top Failure Brakes — 45.7%

2017

70.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 47Avg Mileage 47,267Top Failure Brakes — 36.2%

2018

72.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 36Avg Mileage 47,494Top Failure Brakes — 16.7%

2019

69.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 33Avg Mileage 42,254Top Failure Suspension — 36.4%

2021High Fail Rate

61.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 31Avg Mileage 45,774Top Failure Brakes — 67.7%

MOT results for 1981 MG Mgb by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	70.7%	41	50,298	Brakes — 19.5%
2010	29	64.4%	45	50,686	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.4%
2011	30	70.8%	48	50,382	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.6%
2012	31	74.4%	43	52,643	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.0%
2013	32	70.8%	48	49,401	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.6%
2014	33	78.3%	46	50,422	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.3%
2015	34	66.0%	47	53,055	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.3%
2016	35	65.2%	46	48,760	Brakes — 45.7%
2017	36	70.2%	47	47,267	Brakes — 36.2%
2018	37	72.2%	36	47,494	Brakes — 16.7%
2019	38	69.7%	33	42,254	Suspension — 36.4%
2021	40	61.3%	31	45,774	Brakes — 67.7%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

27.0%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

23.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

22.2%

↑ Increases with age

Visibility

19.4%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

17.2%

↑ 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	19.5% (28 yrs)	67.7% (40 yrs)	+48.2%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	7.3% (28 yrs)	45.2% (40 yrs)	+37.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981

← Back to MG Mgb overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG Mgb cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 511 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.