1977 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1977 perform at MOT as they age

49 years

Current Age

66.7%

Latest Pass Rate

719

Total Tests (All Years)

51,445 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 1977 Volkswagen Beetle as it ages.

32 yrs63.5%

→ ↑0.1%

33 yrs63.6%

→ ↓14.3%

34 yrs49.3%

→ ↑4.7%

35 yrs54.0%

→ ↓0.5%

36 yrs53.5%

→ ↑2.1%

37 yrs55.6%

→ ↑11.6%

38 yrs67.2%

→ ↓1.6%

39 yrs65.6%

→ ↑2.3%

40 yrs67.9%

→ ↑3.8%

41 yrs71.7%

→ ↓5.0%

42 yrs66.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
32 yrs	63.5%	63
33 yrs	63.6%	55
34 yrs	49.3%	69
35 yrs	54.0%	63
36 yrs	53.5%	71
37 yrs	55.6%	72
38 yrs	67.2%	61
39 yrs	65.6%	64
40 yrs	67.9%	109
41 yrs	71.7%	53
42 yrs	66.7%	39

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1977 Volkswagen Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (42 yrs)	66.7%	39
2018 (41 yrs)	71.7%	53
2017 (40 yrs)	67.9%	109
2016 (39 yrs)	65.6%	64
2015 (38 yrs)	67.2%	61
2014 (37 yrs)	55.6%	72
2013 (36 yrs)	53.5%	71
2012 (35 yrs)	54%	63
2011 (34 yrs)	49.3%	69
2010 (33 yrs)	63.6%	55
2009 (32 yrs)	63.5%	63

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 63Avg Mileage 46,527Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%

2010High Fail Rate

63.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 55Avg Mileage 55,012Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%

2011High Fail Rate

49.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 69Avg Mileage 49,502Top Failure Driver's View of the Road — 29.0%

2012High Fail Rate

54.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 63Avg Mileage 50,499Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%

2013High Fail Rate

53.5%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 71Avg Mileage 45,630Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.4%

2014High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 72Avg Mileage 47,821Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 76.4%

2015

67.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 61Avg Mileage 47,108Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.0%

2016

65.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 64Avg Mileage 44,928Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.6%

2017

67.9%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 109Avg Mileage 56,691Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.5%

2018

71.7%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 53Avg Mileage 49,738Top Failure Brakes — 20.8%

2019

66.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 39Avg Mileage 51,445Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.4%

MOT results for 1977 Volkswagen Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	32	63.5%	63	46,527	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%
2010	33	63.6%	55	55,012	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%
2011	34	49.3%	69	49,502	Driver's View of the Road — 29.0%
2012	35	54.0%	63	50,499	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%
2013	36	53.5%	71	45,630	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.4%
2014	37	55.6%	72	47,821	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 76.4%
2015	38	67.2%	61	47,108	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.0%
2016	39	65.6%	64	44,928	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.6%
2017	40	67.9%	109	56,691	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.5%
2018	41	71.7%	53	49,738	Brakes — 20.8%
2019	42	66.7%	39	51,445	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1977 Volkswagen Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

38.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

35.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

28.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

27.1%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

21.3%

↓ 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
Suspension	22.2% (32 yrs)	12.8% (42 yrs)	-9.4%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	20.6% (32 yrs)	20.5% (42 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 1977 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 719 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.