1971 Volkswagen 1303 Super Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

57.1%

Latest Pass Rate

860

Total Tests (All Years)

52,248 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 1303 Super Beetle

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1971 Volkswagen 1303 Super Beetle as it ages.

38 yrs41.7%

→ ↑5.5%

39 yrs47.2%

→ ↑2.4%

40 yrs49.6%

→ ↑4.2%

41 yrs53.8%

→ ↓0.2%

42 yrs53.6%

→ ↑1.6%

43 yrs55.2%

→ ↓5.2%

44 yrs50.0%

→ ↑7.1%

45 yrs57.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	41.7%	120
39 yrs	47.2%	106
40 yrs	49.6%	115
41 yrs	53.8%	117
42 yrs	53.6%	110
43 yrs	55.2%	105
44 yrs	50.0%	96
45 yrs	57.1%	91

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Volkswagen 1303 Super Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (45 yrs)	57.1%	91
2015 (44 yrs)	50%	96
2014 (43 yrs)	55.2%	105
2013 (42 yrs)	53.6%	110
2012 (41 yrs)	53.8%	117
2011 (40 yrs)	49.6%	115
2010 (39 yrs)	47.2%	106
2009 (38 yrs)	41.7%	120

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

41.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 120Avg Mileage 48,642Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.5%

2010High Fail Rate

47.2%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 106Avg Mileage 50,384Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%

2011High Fail Rate

49.6%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 115Avg Mileage 49,953Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.9%

2012High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 117Avg Mileage 52,196Top Failure Suspension — 26.5%

2013High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 110Avg Mileage 46,694Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.1%

2014High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 105Avg Mileage 51,333Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.5%

2015High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 96Avg Mileage 57,382Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 97.9%

2016High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 91Avg Mileage 52,248Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 72.5%

MOT results for 1971 Volkswagen 1303 Super Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	41.7%	120	48,642	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.5%
2010	39	47.2%	106	50,384	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%
2011	40	49.6%	115	49,953	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.9%
2012	41	53.8%	117	52,196	Suspension — 26.5%
2013	42	53.6%	110	46,694	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.1%
2014	43	55.2%	105	51,333	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.5%
2015	44	50.0%	96	57,382	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 97.9%
2016	45	57.1%	91	52,248	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 72.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Volkswagen 1303 Super Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

53.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

44.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

26.6%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

21.5%

↓ 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
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	37.5% (38 yrs)	72.5% (45 yrs)	+35.0%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	30.8% (38 yrs)	45.1% (45 yrs)	+14.3%	🔴 ↑
Steering	27.5% (38 yrs)	20.9% (45 yrs)	-6.6%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	35.0% (38 yrs)	28.6% (45 yrs)	-6.4%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1971 1973

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About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen 1303 Super Beetle cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 860 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.