1972 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1972 perform at MOT as they age

54 years

Current Age

65.0%

Latest Pass Rate

373

Total Tests (All Years)

45,145 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 1972 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle as it ages.

37 yrs46.8%

→ ↓0.1%

38 yrs46.7%

→ ↓3.8%

39 yrs42.9%

→ ↑13.1%

40 yrs56.0%

→ ↑7.9%

41 yrs63.9%

→ ↓3.9%

42 yrs60.0%

→ ↑2.8%

43 yrs62.8%

→ ↑2.2%

44 yrs65.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
37 yrs	46.8%	47
38 yrs	46.7%	45
39 yrs	42.9%	42
40 yrs	56.0%	50
41 yrs	63.9%	36
42 yrs	60.0%	50
43 yrs	62.8%	43
44 yrs	65.0%	60

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1972 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (44 yrs)	65%	60
2015 (43 yrs)	62.8%	43
2014 (42 yrs)	60%	50
2013 (41 yrs)	63.9%	36
2012 (40 yrs)	56%	50
2011 (39 yrs)	42.9%	42
2010 (38 yrs)	46.7%	45
2009 (37 yrs)	46.8%	47

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.8%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 47Avg Mileage 59,356Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.4%

2010High Fail Rate

46.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 45Avg Mileage 51,747Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%

2011High Fail Rate

42.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 42Avg Mileage 44,557Top Failure Brakes — 33.3%

2012High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 50Avg Mileage 37,406Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.0%

2013High Fail Rate

63.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 36Avg Mileage 39,186Top Failure Suspension — 52.8%

2014High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 50Avg Mileage 44,745Top Failure Suspension — 64.0%

2015High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 43Avg Mileage 46,258Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 95.3%

2016

65.0%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 60Avg Mileage 45,145Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 95.0%

MOT results for 1972 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	37	46.8%	47	59,356	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.4%
2010	38	46.7%	45	51,747	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%
2011	39	42.9%	42	44,557	Brakes — 33.3%
2012	40	56.0%	50	37,406	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.0%
2013	41	63.9%	36	39,186	Suspension — 52.8%
2014	42	60.0%	50	44,745	Suspension — 64.0%
2015	43	62.8%	43	46,258	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 95.3%
2016	44	65.0%	60	45,145	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 95.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1972 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

54.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

45.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

39.6%

↑ Increases with age

Seat Belts and Supplementary Restraint Systems

30.2%

— Consistent

Body, Structure and General Items

23.9%

↓ 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
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	40.4% (37 yrs)	95.0% (44 yrs)	+54.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	19.1% (37 yrs)	51.7% (44 yrs)	+32.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	31.9% (37 yrs)	50.0% (44 yrs)	+18.1%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	19.1% (37 yrs)	20.0% (44 yrs)	+0.9%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978

← Back to Volkswagen 1200 Beetle overview

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About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen 1200 Beetle cars manufactured in 1972 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 373 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.