1971 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

75.9%

Latest Pass Rate

16,804

Total Tests (All Years)

38,779 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 1971 Volkswagen Beetle as it ages.

38 yrs48.5%

→ ↑1.6%

39 yrs50.1%

→ ↑0.8%

40 yrs50.9%

→ ↓0.5%

41 yrs50.4%

→ ↑1.5%

42 yrs51.9%

→ ↓0.1%

43 yrs51.8%

→ ↑6.6%

44 yrs58.4%

→ ↑1.0%

45 yrs59.4%

→ ↑3.2%

46 yrs62.6%

→ ↑3.5%

47 yrs66.1%

→ ↑1.1%

48 yrs67.2%

→ ↑2.7%

49 yrs69.9%

→ ↓0.8%

50 yrs69.1%

→ ↑12.1%

51 yrs81.2%

→ ↓11.3%

52 yrs69.9%

→ ↑6.0%

53 yrs75.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	48.5%	1,441
39 yrs	50.1%	1,382
40 yrs	50.9%	1,443
41 yrs	50.4%	1,435
42 yrs	51.9%	1,479
43 yrs	51.8%	1,457
44 yrs	58.4%	1,369
45 yrs	59.4%	1,241
46 yrs	62.6%	2,799
47 yrs	66.1%	1,054
48 yrs	67.2%	653
49 yrs	69.9%	429
50 yrs	69.1%	194
51 yrs	81.2%	138
52 yrs	69.9%	153
53 yrs	75.9%	137

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (53 yrs)	75.9%	137
2023 (52 yrs)	69.9%	153
2022 (51 yrs)	81.2%	138
2021 (50 yrs)	69.1%	194
2020 (49 yrs)	69.9%	429
2019 (48 yrs)	67.2%	653
2018 (47 yrs)	66.1%	1,054
2017 (46 yrs)	62.6%	2,799
2016 (45 yrs)	59.4%	1,241
2015 (44 yrs)	58.4%	1,369
2014 (43 yrs)	51.8%	1,457
2013 (42 yrs)	51.9%	1,479
2012 (41 yrs)	50.4%	1,435
2011 (40 yrs)	50.9%	1,443
2010 (39 yrs)	50.1%	1,382
2009 (38 yrs)	48.5%	1,441

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

48.5%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 1,441Avg Mileage 48,446Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.0%

2010High Fail Rate

50.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 1,382Avg Mileage 51,261Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.6%

2011High Fail Rate

50.9%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 1,443Avg Mileage 50,679Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%

2012High Fail Rate

50.4%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 1,435Avg Mileage 51,213Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.0%

2013High Fail Rate

51.9%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 1,479Avg Mileage 48,575Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 83.9%

2014High Fail Rate

51.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 1,457Avg Mileage 50,039Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 83.7%

2015High Fail Rate

58.4%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 1,369Avg Mileage 49,725Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.3%

2016High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 1,241Avg Mileage 49,615Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.2%

2017High Fail Rate

62.6%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 2,799Avg Mileage 48,040Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.0%

2018

66.1%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 1,054Avg Mileage 49,662Top Failure Suspension — 43.8%

2019

67.2%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 653Avg Mileage 46,964Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 42.4%

2020

69.9%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 429Avg Mileage 47,874Top Failure Suspension — 39.4%

2021

69.1%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 194Avg Mileage 45,540Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 51.5%

2022

81.2%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 138Avg Mileage 45,517Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 21.0%

2023

69.9%

Age (yrs) 52Tests 153Avg Mileage 49,725Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 49.7%

2024

75.9%

Age (yrs) 53Tests 137Avg Mileage 38,779Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 29.9%

MOT results for 1971 Volkswagen Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	48.5%	1,441	48,446	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.0%
2010	39	50.1%	1,382	51,261	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.6%
2011	40	50.9%	1,443	50,679	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%
2012	41	50.4%	1,435	51,213	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.0%
2013	42	51.9%	1,479	48,575	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 83.9%
2014	43	51.8%	1,457	50,039	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 83.7%
2015	44	58.4%	1,369	49,725	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.3%
2016	45	59.4%	1,241	49,615	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.2%
2017	46	62.6%	2,799	48,040	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.0%
2018	47	66.1%	1,054	49,662	Suspension — 43.8%
2019	48	67.2%	653	46,964	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 42.4%
2020	49	69.9%	429	47,874	Suspension — 39.4%
2021	50	69.1%	194	45,540	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 51.5%
2022	51	81.2%	138	45,517	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 21.0%
2023	52	69.9%	153	49,725	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 49.7%
2024	53	75.9%	137	38,779	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 29.9%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

52.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

41.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

36.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Driver's View of the Road

18.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	30.1% (38 yrs)	10.9% (53 yrs)	-19.2%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	26.1% (38 yrs)	10.9% (53 yrs)	-15.2%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volkswagen Beetle page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Beetle cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 16,804 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.