1972 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1972 perform at MOT as they age

54 years

Current Age

59.8%

Latest Pass Rate

704

Total Tests (All Years)

51,671 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 1300 Beetle as it ages.

37 yrs51.3%

→ ↑0.3%

38 yrs51.6%

→ ↑3.3%

39 yrs54.9%

→ ↑3.2%

40 yrs58.1%

→ ↑9.4%

41 yrs67.5%

→ ↓2.1%

42 yrs65.4%

→ ↓0.2%

43 yrs65.2%

→ ↓5.4%

44 yrs59.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
37 yrs	51.3%	113
38 yrs	51.6%	91
39 yrs	54.9%	82
40 yrs	58.1%	86
41 yrs	67.5%	80
42 yrs	65.4%	81
43 yrs	65.2%	89
44 yrs	59.8%	82

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1972 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (44 yrs)	59.8%	82
2015 (43 yrs)	65.2%	89
2014 (42 yrs)	65.4%	81
2013 (41 yrs)	67.5%	80
2012 (40 yrs)	58.1%	86
2011 (39 yrs)	54.9%	82
2010 (38 yrs)	51.6%	91
2009 (37 yrs)	51.3%	113

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 113Avg Mileage 45,650Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.3%

2010High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 91Avg Mileage 47,963Top Failure Suspension — 30.8%

2011High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 82Avg Mileage 48,566Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.3%

2012High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 86Avg Mileage 44,226Top Failure Brakes — 25.6%

2013

67.5%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 80Avg Mileage 55,437Top Failure Suspension — 48.8%

2014

65.4%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 81Avg Mileage 47,478Top Failure Suspension — 42.0%

2015

65.2%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 89Avg Mileage 56,276Top Failure Suspension — 98.9%

2016High Fail Rate

59.8%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 82Avg Mileage 51,671Top Failure Brakes — 61.0%

MOT results for 1972 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	37	51.3%	113	45,650	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.3%
2010	38	51.6%	91	47,963	Suspension — 30.8%
2011	39	54.9%	82	48,566	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.3%
2012	40	58.1%	86	44,226	Brakes — 25.6%
2013	41	67.5%	80	55,437	Suspension — 48.8%
2014	42	65.4%	81	47,478	Suspension — 42.0%
2015	43	65.2%	89	56,276	Suspension — 98.9%
2016	44	59.8%	82	51,671	Brakes — 61.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1972 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle, with age trends.

Suspension

43.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

41.0%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.3%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

18.7%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

14.4%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	22.1% (37 yrs)	61.0% (44 yrs)	+38.9%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	36.3% (37 yrs)	58.5% (44 yrs)	+22.2%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	29.2% (37 yrs)	46.3% (44 yrs)	+17.1%	🔴 ↑
Body, Structure and General Items	17.7% (37 yrs)	19.5% (44 yrs)	+1.8%	⚪ —
Driver's View of the Road	15.0% (37 yrs)	15.9% (44 yrs)	+0.9%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975

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About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen 1300 Beetle cars manufactured in 1972 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 704 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.