1975 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1975 perform at MOT as they age

51 years

Current Age

62.2%

Latest Pass Rate

1,707

Total Tests (All Years)

38,809 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 1975 Volkswagen Beetle as it ages.

34 yrs50.4%

→ ↓8.1%

35 yrs42.3%

→ ↓2.1%

36 yrs40.2%

→ ↑7.2%

37 yrs47.4%

→ ↑2.6%

38 yrs50.0%

→ ↓0.4%

39 yrs49.6%

→ ↑4.8%

40 yrs54.4%

→ ↑5.3%

41 yrs59.7%

→ ↓0.3%

42 yrs59.4%

→ ↑2.7%

43 yrs62.1%

→ ↓3.6%

44 yrs58.5%

→ ↑4.2%

45 yrs62.7%

→ ↑20.0%

46 yrs82.7%

→ ↓19.3%

47 yrs63.4%

→ ↑11.0%

48 yrs74.4%

→ ↓12.2%

49 yrs62.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
34 yrs	50.4%	137
35 yrs	42.3%	123
36 yrs	40.2%	112
37 yrs	47.4%	133
38 yrs	50.0%	128
39 yrs	49.6%	135
40 yrs	54.4%	136
41 yrs	59.7%	119
42 yrs	59.4%	271
43 yrs	62.1%	103
44 yrs	58.5%	82
45 yrs	62.7%	59
46 yrs	82.7%	52
47 yrs	63.4%	41
48 yrs	74.4%	39
49 yrs	62.2%	37

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1975 Volkswagen Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (49 yrs)	62.2%	37
2023 (48 yrs)	74.4%	39
2022 (47 yrs)	63.4%	41
2021 (46 yrs)	82.7%	52
2020 (45 yrs)	62.7%	59
2019 (44 yrs)	58.5%	82
2018 (43 yrs)	62.1%	103
2017 (42 yrs)	59.4%	271
2016 (41 yrs)	59.7%	119
2015 (40 yrs)	54.4%	136
2014 (39 yrs)	49.6%	135
2013 (38 yrs)	50%	128
2012 (37 yrs)	47.4%	133
2011 (36 yrs)	40.2%	112
2010 (35 yrs)	42.3%	123
2009 (34 yrs)	50.4%	137

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

50.4%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 137Avg Mileage 46,665Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.5%

2010High Fail Rate

42.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 123Avg Mileage 46,639Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.4%

2011High Fail Rate

40.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 112Avg Mileage 49,215Top Failure Suspension — 34.8%

2012High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 133Avg Mileage 50,140Top Failure Suspension — 33.1%

2013High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 128Avg Mileage 47,949Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 85.9%

2014High Fail Rate

49.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 135Avg Mileage 52,497Top Failure Suspension — 85.9%

2015High Fail Rate

54.4%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 136Avg Mileage 49,039Top Failure Suspension — 65.4%

2016High Fail Rate

59.7%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 119Avg Mileage 47,481Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 63.9%

2017High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 271Avg Mileage 49,029Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 80.8%

2018High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 103Avg Mileage 46,257Top Failure Suspension — 53.4%

2019High Fail Rate

58.5%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 82Avg Mileage 47,105Top Failure Brakes — 51.2%

2020High Fail Rate

62.7%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 59Avg Mileage 61,258Top Failure Suspension — 49.2%

2021

82.7%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 52Avg Mileage 46,119Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 13.5%

2022High Fail Rate

63.4%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 41Avg Mileage 59,699Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 65.9%

2023

74.4%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 39Avg Mileage 52,083Top Failure Suspension — 43.6%

2024High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 37Avg Mileage 38,809Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 70.3%

MOT results for 1975 Volkswagen Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	34	50.4%	137	46,665	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.5%
2010	35	42.3%	123	46,639	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.4%
2011	36	40.2%	112	49,215	Suspension — 34.8%
2012	37	47.4%	133	50,140	Suspension — 33.1%
2013	38	50.0%	128	47,949	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 85.9%
2014	39	49.6%	135	52,497	Suspension — 85.9%
2015	40	54.4%	136	49,039	Suspension — 65.4%
2016	41	59.7%	119	47,481	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 63.9%
2017	42	59.4%	271	49,029	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 80.8%
2018	43	62.1%	103	46,257	Suspension — 53.4%
2019	44	58.5%	82	47,105	Brakes — 51.2%
2020	45	62.7%	59	61,258	Suspension — 49.2%
2021	46	82.7%	52	46,119	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 13.5%
2022	47	63.4%	41	59,699	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 65.9%
2023	48	74.4%	39	52,083	Suspension — 43.6%
2024	49	62.2%	37	38,809	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 70.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1975 Volkswagen Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

52.3%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

44.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

37.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

36.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

28.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	24.1% (34 yrs)	16.2% (49 yrs)	-7.9%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	27.7% (34 yrs)	35.1% (49 yrs)	+7.4%	🔴 ↑
Steering	19.0% (34 yrs)	18.9% (49 yrs)	-0.1%	⚪ —

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 1975 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,707 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.