1974 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1974 perform at MOT as they age

52 years

Current Age

63.2%

Latest Pass Rate

499

Total Tests (All Years)

49,155 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 1300 Beetle as it ages.

35 yrs43.9%

→ ↓4.9%

36 yrs39.0%

→ ↑12.5%

37 yrs51.5%

→ ↓3.3%

38 yrs48.2%

→ ↑14.5%

39 yrs62.7%

→ ↓7.3%

40 yrs55.4%

→ ↑15.2%

41 yrs70.6%

→ ↓7.4%

42 yrs63.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
35 yrs	43.9%	82
36 yrs	39.0%	59
37 yrs	51.5%	68
38 yrs	48.2%	56
39 yrs	62.7%	59
40 yrs	55.4%	56
41 yrs	70.6%	51
42 yrs	63.2%	68

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1974 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (42 yrs)	63.2%	68
2015 (41 yrs)	70.6%	51
2014 (40 yrs)	55.4%	56
2013 (39 yrs)	62.7%	59
2012 (38 yrs)	48.2%	56
2011 (37 yrs)	51.5%	68
2010 (36 yrs)	39%	59
2009 (35 yrs)	43.9%	82

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

43.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 82Avg Mileage 46,776Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.8%

2010High Fail Rate

39.0%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 59Avg Mileage 47,903Top Failure Suspension — 37.3%

2011High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 68Avg Mileage 51,128Top Failure Suspension — 29.4%

2012High Fail Rate

48.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 56Avg Mileage 48,613Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.1%

2013High Fail Rate

62.7%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 59Avg Mileage 41,141Top Failure Brakes — 54.2%

2014High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 56Avg Mileage 42,608Top Failure Suspension — 71.4%

2015

70.6%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 51Avg Mileage 40,489Top Failure Suspension — 47.1%

2016High Fail Rate

63.2%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 68Avg Mileage 49,155Top Failure Brakes — 41.2%

MOT results for 1974 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	35	43.9%	82	46,776	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.8%
2010	36	39.0%	59	47,903	Suspension — 37.3%
2011	37	51.5%	68	51,128	Suspension — 29.4%
2012	38	48.2%	56	48,613	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.1%
2013	39	62.7%	59	41,141	Brakes — 54.2%
2014	40	55.4%	56	42,608	Suspension — 71.4%
2015	41	70.6%	51	40,489	Suspension — 47.1%
2016	42	63.2%	68	49,155	Brakes — 41.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1974 Volkswagen 1300 Beetle, with age trends.

Suspension

40.8%

— Consistent

Brakes

37.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Driver's View of the Road

17.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

16.1%

↓ 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
Brakes	30.5% (35 yrs)	41.2% (42 yrs)	+10.7%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	37.8% (35 yrs)	27.9% (42 yrs)	-9.9%	🟢 ↓
Driver's View of the Road	19.5% (35 yrs)	11.8% (42 yrs)	-7.7%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	37.8% (35 yrs)	35.3% (42 yrs)	-2.5%	🟢 ↓

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 1974 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 499 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.