1976 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1976 perform at MOT as they age

50 years

Current Age

64.9%

Latest Pass Rate

770

Total Tests (All Years)

41,040 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 1976 Volkswagen Beetle as it ages.

33 yrs48.7%

→ ↑7.2%

34 yrs55.9%

→ ↑0.7%

35 yrs56.6%

→ ↓12.0%

36 yrs44.6%

→ ↓1.7%

37 yrs42.9%

→ ↑19.1%

38 yrs62.0%

→ ↓9.1%

39 yrs52.9%

→ ↓2.2%

40 yrs50.7%

→ ↑5.9%

41 yrs56.6%

→ ↑3.9%

42 yrs60.5%

→ ↑4.4%

43 yrs64.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
33 yrs	48.7%	76
34 yrs	55.9%	68
35 yrs	56.6%	76
36 yrs	44.6%	74
37 yrs	42.9%	77
38 yrs	62.0%	79
39 yrs	52.9%	68
40 yrs	50.7%	71
41 yrs	56.6%	106
42 yrs	60.5%	38
43 yrs	64.9%	37

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1976 Volkswagen Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (43 yrs)	64.9%	37
2018 (42 yrs)	60.5%	38
2017 (41 yrs)	56.6%	106
2016 (40 yrs)	50.7%	71
2015 (39 yrs)	52.9%	68
2014 (38 yrs)	62%	79
2013 (37 yrs)	42.9%	77
2012 (36 yrs)	44.6%	74
2011 (35 yrs)	56.6%	76
2010 (34 yrs)	55.9%	68
2009 (33 yrs)	48.7%	76

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

48.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 76Avg Mileage 62,984Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%

2010High Fail Rate

55.9%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 68Avg Mileage 45,945Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.9%

2011High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 76Avg Mileage 45,043Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%

2012High Fail Rate

44.6%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 74Avg Mileage 48,538Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.2%

2013High Fail Rate

42.9%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 77Avg Mileage 47,971Top Failure Suspension — 98.7%

2014High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 79Avg Mileage 45,359Top Failure Suspension — 51.9%

2015High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 68Avg Mileage 59,436Top Failure Brakes — 58.8%

2016High Fail Rate

50.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 71Avg Mileage 42,353Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.0%

2017High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 106Avg Mileage 50,350Top Failure Brakes — 47.2%

2018High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 38Avg Mileage 47,729Top Failure Brakes — 55.3%

2019High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 37Avg Mileage 41,040Top Failure Brakes — 62.2%

MOT results for 1976 Volkswagen Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	33	48.7%	76	62,984	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.6%
2010	34	55.9%	68	45,945	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.9%
2011	35	56.6%	76	45,043	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%
2012	36	44.6%	74	48,538	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.2%
2013	37	42.9%	77	47,971	Suspension — 98.7%
2014	38	62.0%	79	45,359	Suspension — 51.9%
2015	39	52.9%	68	59,436	Brakes — 58.8%
2016	40	50.7%	71	42,353	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.0%
2017	41	56.6%	106	50,350	Brakes — 47.2%
2018	42	60.5%	38	47,729	Brakes — 55.3%
2019	43	64.9%	37	41,040	Brakes — 62.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1976 Volkswagen Beetle, with age trends.

Suspension

46.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

45.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

43.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

43.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

35.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	26.3% (33 yrs)	62.2% (43 yrs)	+35.9%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	26.3% (33 yrs)	56.8% (43 yrs)	+30.5%	🔴 ↑

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 1976 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 770 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.