1973 Volkswagen 1303 Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

69.4%

Latest Pass Rate

441

Total Tests (All Years)

49,880 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 1303 Beetle

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1973 Volkswagen 1303 Beetle as it ages.

36 yrs58.3%

→ ↓9.2%

37 yrs49.1%

→ ↓0.8%

38 yrs48.3%

→ ↓1.2%

39 yrs47.1%

→ ↑11.6%

40 yrs58.7%

→ ↓7.0%

41 yrs51.7%

→ ↑3.2%

42 yrs54.9%

→ ↑14.5%

43 yrs69.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	58.3%	60
37 yrs	49.1%	55
38 yrs	48.3%	58
39 yrs	47.1%	51
40 yrs	58.7%	46
41 yrs	51.7%	58
42 yrs	54.9%	51
43 yrs	69.4%	62

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1973 Volkswagen 1303 Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (43 yrs)	69.4%	62
2015 (42 yrs)	54.9%	51
2014 (41 yrs)	51.7%	58
2013 (40 yrs)	58.7%	46
2012 (39 yrs)	47.1%	51
2011 (38 yrs)	48.3%	58
2010 (37 yrs)	49.1%	55
2009 (36 yrs)	58.3%	60

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 60Avg Mileage 49,846Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.3%

2010High Fail Rate

49.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 55Avg Mileage 45,890Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.4%

2011High Fail Rate

48.3%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 58Avg Mileage 46,716Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.7%

2012High Fail Rate

47.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 51Avg Mileage 47,867Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.3%

2013High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 46Avg Mileage 45,316Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.3%

2014High Fail Rate

51.7%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 58Avg Mileage 48,516Top Failure Suspension — 100.0%

2015High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 51Avg Mileage 49,925Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 92.2%

2016

69.4%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 62Avg Mileage 49,880Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.0%

MOT results for 1973 Volkswagen 1303 Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	58.3%	60	49,846	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.3%
2010	37	49.1%	55	45,890	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.4%
2011	38	48.3%	58	46,716	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.7%
2012	39	47.1%	51	47,867	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.3%
2013	40	58.7%	46	45,316	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.3%
2014	41	51.7%	58	48,516	Suspension — 100.0%
2015	42	54.9%	51	49,925	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 92.2%
2016	43	69.4%	62	49,880	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1973 Volkswagen 1303 Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

55.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

49.8%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

41.8%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

25.1%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

22.7%

↑ 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
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	28.3% (36 yrs)	71.0% (43 yrs)	+42.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	21.7% (36 yrs)	53.2% (43 yrs)	+31.5%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.7% (36 yrs)	46.8% (43 yrs)	+25.1%	🔴 ↑
Steering	20.0% (36 yrs)	25.8% (43 yrs)	+5.8%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1971 1973 1974 1975

← Back to Volkswagen 1303 Beetle overview

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About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen 1303 Beetle cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 441 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.