1974 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1974 perform at MOT as they age

52 years

Current Age

66.3%

Latest Pass Rate

1,945

Total Tests (All Years)

46,652 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 Beetle as it ages.

35 yrs50.0%

→ ↓7.7%

36 yrs42.3%

→ ↑10.0%

37 yrs52.3%

→ ↑4.5%

38 yrs56.8%

→ ↓10.2%

39 yrs46.6%

→ ↑1.4%

40 yrs48.0%

→ ↑7.6%

41 yrs55.6%

→ ↑7.5%

42 yrs63.1%

→ ↑3.5%

43 yrs66.6%

→ ↑1.2%

44 yrs67.8%

→ ↑1.1%

45 yrs68.9%

→ ↓6.8%

46 yrs62.1%

→ ↑12.4%

47 yrs74.5%

→ ↓7.8%

48 yrs66.7%

→ ↑12.7%

49 yrs79.4%

→ ↓13.1%

50 yrs66.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
35 yrs	50.0%	152
36 yrs	42.3%	142
37 yrs	52.3%	132
38 yrs	56.8%	118
39 yrs	46.6%	131
40 yrs	48.0%	127
41 yrs	55.6%	126
42 yrs	63.1%	122
43 yrs	66.6%	302
44 yrs	67.8%	118
45 yrs	68.9%	74
46 yrs	62.1%	66
47 yrs	74.5%	106
48 yrs	66.7%	66
49 yrs	79.4%	68
50 yrs	66.3%	95

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (50 yrs)	66.3%	95
2023 (49 yrs)	79.4%	68
2022 (48 yrs)	66.7%	66
2021 (47 yrs)	74.5%	106
2020 (46 yrs)	62.1%	66
2019 (45 yrs)	68.9%	74
2018 (44 yrs)	67.8%	118
2017 (43 yrs)	66.6%	302
2016 (42 yrs)	63.1%	122
2015 (41 yrs)	55.6%	126
2014 (40 yrs)	48%	127
2013 (39 yrs)	46.6%	131
2012 (38 yrs)	56.8%	118
2011 (37 yrs)	52.3%	132
2010 (36 yrs)	42.3%	142
2009 (35 yrs)	50%	152

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 152Avg Mileage 56,224Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.5%

2010High Fail Rate

42.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 142Avg Mileage 50,201Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.2%

2011High Fail Rate

52.3%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 132Avg Mileage 49,416Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%

2012High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 118Avg Mileage 45,453Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.5%

2013High Fail Rate

46.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 131Avg Mileage 47,017Top Failure Suspension — 84.0%

2014High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 127Avg Mileage 51,146Top Failure Brakes — 81.9%

2015High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 126Avg Mileage 45,406Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.6%

2016High Fail Rate

63.1%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 122Avg Mileage 49,160Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.3%

2017

66.6%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 302Avg Mileage 44,077Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.9%

2018

67.8%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 118Avg Mileage 46,970Top Failure Suspension — 50.0%

2019

68.9%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 74Avg Mileage 41,653Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 50.0%

2020High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 66Avg Mileage 46,315Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.1%

2021

74.5%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 106Avg Mileage 52,980Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 34.9%

2022

66.7%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 66Avg Mileage 49,349Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.6%

2023

79.4%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 68Avg Mileage 48,363Top Failure Suspension — 23.5%

2024

66.3%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 95Avg Mileage 46,652Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 30.5%

MOT results for 1974 Volkswagen Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	35	50.0%	152	56,224	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.5%
2010	36	42.3%	142	50,201	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.2%
2011	37	52.3%	132	49,416	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%
2012	38	56.8%	118	45,453	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.5%
2013	39	46.6%	131	47,017	Suspension — 84.0%
2014	40	48.0%	127	51,146	Brakes — 81.9%
2015	41	55.6%	126	45,406	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.6%
2016	42	63.1%	122	49,160	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.3%
2017	43	66.6%	302	44,077	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.9%
2018	44	67.8%	118	46,970	Suspension — 50.0%
2019	45	68.9%	74	41,653	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 50.0%
2020	46	62.1%	66	46,315	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.1%
2021	47	74.5%	106	52,980	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 34.9%
2022	48	66.7%	66	49,349	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.6%
2023	49	79.4%	68	48,363	Suspension — 23.5%
2024	50	66.3%	95	46,652	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 30.5%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

49.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

41.0%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

38.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

35.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Driver's View of the Road

21.9%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	21.7% (35 yrs)	9.5% (50 yrs)	-12.2%	🟢 ↓
Steering	16.4% (35 yrs)	8.4% (50 yrs)	-8.0%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	27.0% (35 yrs)	28.4% (50 yrs)	+1.4%	⚪ —

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 1974 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,945 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.