1973 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

60.3%

Latest Pass Rate

1,157

Total Tests (All Years)

44,653 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 1300 Beetle as it ages.

36 yrs53.6%

→ ↓1.0%

37 yrs52.6%

→ ↓0.6%

38 yrs52.0%

→ ↓2.8%

39 yrs49.2%

→ ↑8.8%

40 yrs58.0%

→ ↓2.3%

41 yrs55.7%

→ ↑9.7%

42 yrs65.4%

→ ↓5.1%

43 yrs60.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	53.6%	166
37 yrs	52.6%	156
38 yrs	52.0%	150
39 yrs	49.2%	130
40 yrs	58.0%	138
41 yrs	55.7%	149
42 yrs	65.4%	127
43 yrs	60.3%	141

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1973 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (43 yrs)	60.3%	141
2015 (42 yrs)	65.4%	127
2014 (41 yrs)	55.7%	149
2013 (40 yrs)	58%	138
2012 (39 yrs)	49.2%	130
2011 (38 yrs)	52%	150
2010 (37 yrs)	52.6%	156
2009 (36 yrs)	53.6%	166

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 166Avg Mileage 48,546Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.3%

2010High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 156Avg Mileage 47,802Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%

2011High Fail Rate

52.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 150Avg Mileage 46,613Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%

2012High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 130Avg Mileage 45,602Top Failure Suspension — 30.8%

2013High Fail Rate

58.0%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 138Avg Mileage 49,649Top Failure Suspension — 84.1%

2014High Fail Rate

55.7%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 149Avg Mileage 53,257Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 94.0%

2015

65.4%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 127Avg Mileage 44,859Top Failure Suspension — 61.4%

2016High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 141Avg Mileage 44,653Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 77.3%

MOT results for 1973 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	53.6%	166	48,546	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.3%
2010	37	52.6%	156	47,802	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%
2011	38	52.0%	150	46,613	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%
2012	39	49.2%	130	45,602	Suspension — 30.8%
2013	40	58.0%	138	49,649	Suspension — 84.1%
2014	41	55.7%	149	53,257	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 94.0%
2015	42	65.4%	127	44,859	Suspension — 61.4%
2016	43	60.3%	141	44,653	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 77.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1973 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

53.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

49.0%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

34.5%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

27.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Steering

18.0%

— Consistent

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	28.3% (36 yrs)	77.3% (43 yrs)	+49.0%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	22.3% (36 yrs)	66.0% (43 yrs)	+43.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	26.5% (36 yrs)	41.1% (43 yrs)	+14.6%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	15.1% (36 yrs)	22.0% (43 yrs)	+6.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975

← Back to Volkswagen 1300 Beetle overview

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About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen 1300 Beetle cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 1,157 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.