1981 Porsche 911 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

92.7%

Latest Pass Rate

2,252

Total Tests (All Years)

95,593 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 Porsche 911 as it ages.

28 yrs63.7%

→ ↑2.4%

29 yrs66.1%

→ ↓1.7%

30 yrs64.4%

→ ↓1.5%

31 yrs62.9%

→ ↑9.0%

32 yrs71.9%

→ ↓4.2%

33 yrs67.7%

→ ↑2.5%

34 yrs70.2%

→ ↓0.3%

35 yrs69.9%

→ ↑2.4%

36 yrs72.3%

→ ↑2.9%

37 yrs75.2%

→ ↑7.4%

38 yrs82.6%

→ ↑1.2%

39 yrs83.8%

→ ↓0.5%

40 yrs83.3%

→ ↓4.8%

41 yrs78.5%

→ ↓1.1%

42 yrs77.4%

→ ↑15.3%

43 yrs92.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	63.7%	204
29 yrs	66.1%	183
30 yrs	64.4%	177
31 yrs	62.9%	178
32 yrs	71.9%	153
33 yrs	67.7%	158
34 yrs	70.2%	161
35 yrs	69.9%	156
36 yrs	72.3%	173
37 yrs	75.2%	113
38 yrs	82.6%	109
39 yrs	83.8%	111
40 yrs	83.3%	120
41 yrs	78.5%	79
42 yrs	77.4%	53
43 yrs	92.7%	124

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Porsche 911 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (43 yrs)	92.7%	124
2023 (42 yrs)	77.4%	53
2022 (41 yrs)	78.5%	79
2021 (40 yrs)	83.3%	120
2020 (39 yrs)	83.8%	111
2019 (38 yrs)	82.6%	109
2018 (37 yrs)	75.2%	113
2017 (36 yrs)	72.3%	173
2016 (35 yrs)	69.9%	156
2015 (34 yrs)	70.2%	161
2014 (33 yrs)	67.7%	158
2013 (32 yrs)	71.9%	153
2012 (31 yrs)	62.9%	178
2011 (30 yrs)	64.4%	177
2010 (29 yrs)	66.1%	183
2009 (28 yrs)	63.7%	204

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

63.7%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 204Avg Mileage 106,022Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.9%

2010

66.1%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 183Avg Mileage 109,895Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%

2011High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 177Avg Mileage 104,793Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%

2012High Fail Rate

62.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 178Avg Mileage 104,707Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%

2013

71.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 153Avg Mileage 99,490Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.3%

2014

67.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 158Avg Mileage 107,094Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.1%

2015

70.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 161Avg Mileage 99,399Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.8%

2016

69.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 156Avg Mileage 99,354Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.1%

2017

72.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 173Avg Mileage 100,430Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.8%

2018

75.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 113Avg Mileage 96,464Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 29.2%

2019

82.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 109Avg Mileage 103,625Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 37.6%

2020

83.8%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 111Avg Mileage 95,860Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 34.2%

2021

83.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 120Avg Mileage 95,750Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 28.3%

2022

78.5%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 79Avg Mileage 96,206Top Failure Suspension — 20.3%

2023

77.4%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 53Avg Mileage 91,082Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 49.1%

2024

92.7%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 124Avg Mileage 95,593Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 4.8%

MOT results for 1981 Porsche 911 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	63.7%	204	106,022	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.9%
2010	29	66.1%	183	109,895	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%
2011	30	64.4%	177	104,793	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%
2012	31	62.9%	178	104,707	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%
2013	32	71.9%	153	99,490	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.3%
2014	33	67.7%	158	107,094	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.1%
2015	34	70.2%	161	99,399	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.8%
2016	35	69.9%	156	99,354	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.1%
2017	36	72.3%	173	100,430	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.8%
2018	37	75.2%	113	96,464	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 29.2%
2019	38	82.6%	109	103,625	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 37.6%
2020	39	83.8%	111	95,860	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 34.2%
2021	40	83.3%	120	95,750	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 28.3%
2022	41	78.5%	79	96,206	Suspension — 20.3%
2023	42	77.4%	53	91,082	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 49.1%
2024	43	92.7%	124	95,593	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 4.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Porsche 911, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

29.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

19.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

15.2%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

12.6%

↑ 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	18.6% (28 yrs)	1.6% (43 yrs)	-17.0%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Porsche 911 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Porsche 911 cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,252 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.