1973 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

59.0%

Latest Pass Rate

519

Total Tests (All Years)

41,425 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 1973 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle as it ages.

36 yrs32.9%

→ ↓2.8%

37 yrs30.1%

→ ↑19.1%

38 yrs49.2%

→ ↓11.9%

39 yrs37.3%

→ ↑11.9%

40 yrs49.2%

→ ↓7.4%

41 yrs41.8%

→ ↑16.5%

42 yrs58.3%

→ ↑0.7%

43 yrs59.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	32.9%	79
37 yrs	30.1%	73
38 yrs	49.2%	65
39 yrs	37.3%	67
40 yrs	49.2%	59
41 yrs	41.8%	55
42 yrs	58.3%	60
43 yrs	59.0%	61

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1973 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (43 yrs)	59%	61
2015 (42 yrs)	58.3%	60
2014 (41 yrs)	41.8%	55
2013 (40 yrs)	49.2%	59
2012 (39 yrs)	37.3%	67
2011 (38 yrs)	49.2%	65
2010 (37 yrs)	30.1%	73
2009 (36 yrs)	32.9%	79

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

32.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 79Avg Mileage 55,684Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.4%

2010High Fail Rate

30.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 73Avg Mileage 52,559Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.6%

2011High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 65Avg Mileage 48,905Top Failure Suspension — 43.1%

2012High Fail Rate

37.3%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 67Avg Mileage 52,322Top Failure Suspension — 40.3%

2013High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 59Avg Mileage 49,343Top Failure Suspension — 133.9%

2014High Fail Rate

41.8%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 55Avg Mileage 47,131Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 112.7%

2015High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 60Avg Mileage 39,760Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.0%

2016High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 61Avg Mileage 41,425Top Failure Brakes — 57.4%

MOT results for 1973 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	32.9%	79	55,684	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.4%
2010	37	30.1%	73	52,559	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.6%
2011	38	49.2%	65	48,905	Suspension — 43.1%
2012	39	37.3%	67	52,322	Suspension — 40.3%
2013	40	49.2%	59	49,343	Suspension — 133.9%
2014	41	41.8%	55	47,131	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 112.7%
2015	42	58.3%	60	39,760	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.0%
2016	43	59.0%	61	41,425	Brakes — 57.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1973 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

63.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

57.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

50.5%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

27.6%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

27.5%

↑ 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	41.8% (36 yrs)	57.4% (43 yrs)	+15.6%	🔴 ↑
Body, Structure and General Items	21.5% (36 yrs)	36.1% (43 yrs)	+14.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	45.6% (36 yrs)	54.1% (43 yrs)	+8.5%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	49.4% (36 yrs)	52.5% (43 yrs)	+3.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978

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About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen 1200 Beetle cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 519 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.