1976 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1976 perform at MOT as they age

50 years

Current Age

47.4%

Latest Pass Rate

290

Total Tests (All Years)

54,354 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 1976 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle as it ages.

33 yrs48.9%

→ ↓3.2%

34 yrs45.7%

→ ↑4.3%

35 yrs50.0%

→ ↑5.9%

36 yrs55.9%

→ ↑1.2%

37 yrs57.1%

→ ↓11.2%

38 yrs45.9%

→ ↑16.6%

39 yrs62.5%

→ ↓15.1%

40 yrs47.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
33 yrs	48.9%	47
34 yrs	45.7%	35
35 yrs	50.0%	32
36 yrs	55.9%	34
37 yrs	57.1%	35
38 yrs	45.9%	37
39 yrs	62.5%	32
40 yrs	47.4%	38

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1976 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (40 yrs)	47.4%	38
2015 (39 yrs)	62.5%	32
2014 (38 yrs)	45.9%	37
2013 (37 yrs)	57.1%	35
2012 (36 yrs)	55.9%	34
2011 (35 yrs)	50%	32
2010 (34 yrs)	45.7%	35
2009 (33 yrs)	48.9%	47

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

48.9%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 47Avg Mileage 51,065Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.2%

2010High Fail Rate

45.7%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 35Avg Mileage 55,272Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.0%

2011High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 32Avg Mileage 52,560Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.6%

2012High Fail Rate

55.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 34Avg Mileage 56,072Top Failure Brakes — 29.4%

2013High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 35Avg Mileage 52,442Top Failure Suspension — 57.1%

2014High Fail Rate

45.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 37Avg Mileage 53,670Top Failure Suspension — 121.6%

2015High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 32Avg Mileage 51,690Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.1%

2016High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 38Avg Mileage 54,354Top Failure Brakes — 94.7%

MOT results for 1976 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	33	48.9%	47	51,065	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.2%
2010	34	45.7%	35	55,272	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.0%
2011	35	50.0%	32	52,560	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.6%
2012	36	55.9%	34	56,072	Brakes — 29.4%
2013	37	57.1%	35	52,442	Suspension — 57.1%
2014	38	45.9%	37	53,670	Suspension — 121.6%
2015	39	62.5%	32	51,690	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.1%
2016	40	47.4%	38	54,354	Brakes — 94.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1976 Volkswagen 1200 Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

51.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

50.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

49.8%

↑ Increases with age

Seat Belts and Supplementary Restraint Systems

27.0%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

22.5%

↑ 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	27.7% (33 yrs)	94.7% (40 yrs)	+67.0%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	21.3% (33 yrs)	71.1% (40 yrs)	+49.8%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	36.2% (33 yrs)	81.6% (40 yrs)	+45.4%	🔴 ↑
Body, Structure and General Items	19.1% (33 yrs)	23.7% (40 yrs)	+4.6%	🔴 ↑

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 1976 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 290 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.