1974 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1974 perform at MOT as they age

52 years

Current Age

47.7%

Latest Pass Rate

331

Total Tests (All Years)

42,794 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 1974 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle as it ages.

35 yrs44.9%

→ ↓4.0%

36 yrs40.9%

→ ↑6.8%

37 yrs47.7%

→ ↑0.1%

38 yrs47.8%

→ ↑3.6%

39 yrs51.4%

→ ↑26.7%

40 yrs78.1%

→ ↓15.9%

41 yrs62.2%

→ ↓14.5%

42 yrs47.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
35 yrs	44.9%	49
36 yrs	40.9%	44
37 yrs	47.7%	44
38 yrs	47.8%	46
39 yrs	51.4%	35
40 yrs	78.1%	32
41 yrs	62.2%	37
42 yrs	47.7%	44

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1974 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (42 yrs)	47.7%	44
2015 (41 yrs)	62.2%	37
2014 (40 yrs)	78.1%	32
2013 (39 yrs)	51.4%	35
2012 (38 yrs)	47.8%	46
2011 (37 yrs)	47.7%	44
2010 (36 yrs)	40.9%	44
2009 (35 yrs)	44.9%	49

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

44.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 49Avg Mileage 53,311Top Failure Brakes — 34.7%

2010High Fail Rate

40.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 44Avg Mileage 48,788Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.5%

2011High Fail Rate

47.7%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 44Avg Mileage 47,203Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.7%

2012High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 46Avg Mileage 47,002Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.0%

2013High Fail Rate

51.4%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 35Avg Mileage 50,555Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 94.3%

2014

78.1%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 32Avg Mileage 55,204Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.5%

2015High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 37Avg Mileage 47,231Top Failure Suspension — 70.3%

2016High Fail Rate

47.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 44Avg Mileage 42,794Top Failure Suspension — 88.6%

MOT results for 1974 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	35	44.9%	49	53,311	Brakes — 34.7%
2010	36	40.9%	44	48,788	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.5%
2011	37	47.7%	44	47,203	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.7%
2012	38	47.8%	46	47,002	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.0%
2013	39	51.4%	35	50,555	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 94.3%
2014	40	78.1%	32	55,204	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.5%
2015	41	62.2%	37	47,231	Suspension — 70.3%
2016	42	47.7%	44	42,794	Suspension — 88.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1974 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

53.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

47.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

44.7%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

21.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

20.6%

↓ 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
Suspension	24.5% (35 yrs)	88.6% (42 yrs)	+64.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	34.7% (35 yrs)	81.8% (42 yrs)	+47.1%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	34.7% (35 yrs)	79.5% (42 yrs)	+44.8%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	26.5% (35 yrs)	18.2% (42 yrs)	-8.3%	🟢 ↓

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 1974 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 331 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.