1978 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

75.8%

Latest Pass Rate

1,122

Total Tests (All Years)

41,154 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 1978 Volkswagen Beetle as it ages.

31 yrs59.2%

→ ↓7.6%

32 yrs51.6%

→ ↑10.5%

33 yrs62.1%

→ ↓15.0%

34 yrs47.1%

→ ↑9.6%

35 yrs56.7%

→ ↑1.5%

36 yrs58.2%

→ ↓1.1%

37 yrs57.1%

→ ↑2.5%

38 yrs59.6%

→ ↑10.3%

39 yrs69.9%

→ ↑0.2%

40 yrs70.1%

→ ↑4.0%

41 yrs74.1%

→ ↑5.9%

42 yrs80.0%

→ ↓4.2%

43 yrs75.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	59.2%	103
32 yrs	51.6%	95
33 yrs	62.1%	95
34 yrs	47.1%	87
35 yrs	56.7%	104
36 yrs	58.2%	98
37 yrs	57.1%	91
38 yrs	59.6%	94
39 yrs	69.9%	156
40 yrs	70.1%	77
41 yrs	74.1%	54
42 yrs	80.0%	35
43 yrs	75.8%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Volkswagen Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (43 yrs)	75.8%	33
2020 (42 yrs)	80%	35
2019 (41 yrs)	74.1%	54
2018 (40 yrs)	70.1%	77
2017 (39 yrs)	69.9%	156
2016 (38 yrs)	59.6%	94
2015 (37 yrs)	57.1%	91
2014 (36 yrs)	58.2%	98
2013 (35 yrs)	56.7%	104
2012 (34 yrs)	47.1%	87
2011 (33 yrs)	62.1%	95
2010 (32 yrs)	51.6%	95
2009 (31 yrs)	59.2%	103

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.2%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 103Avg Mileage 43,842Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.2%

2010High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 95Avg Mileage 58,521Top Failure Brakes — 27.4%

2011High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 95Avg Mileage 48,830Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.3%

2012High Fail Rate

47.1%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 87Avg Mileage 53,067Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.7%

2013High Fail Rate

56.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 104Avg Mileage 53,152Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.8%

2014High Fail Rate

58.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 98Avg Mileage 52,817Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.1%

2015High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 91Avg Mileage 57,339Top Failure Brakes — 64.8%

2016High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 94Avg Mileage 45,431Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.0%

2017

69.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 156Avg Mileage 45,049Top Failure Suspension — 35.9%

2018

70.1%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 77Avg Mileage 46,321Top Failure Suspension — 22.1%

2019

74.1%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 54Avg Mileage 40,269Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 33.3%

2020

80.0%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 35Avg Mileage 48,184Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 37.1%

2021

75.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 33Avg Mileage 41,154Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 36.4%

MOT results for 1978 Volkswagen Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	59.2%	103	43,842	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.2%
2010	32	51.6%	95	58,521	Brakes — 27.4%
2011	33	62.1%	95	48,830	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.3%
2012	34	47.1%	87	53,067	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.7%
2013	35	56.7%	104	53,152	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 78.8%
2014	36	58.2%	98	52,817	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.1%
2015	37	57.1%	91	57,339	Brakes — 64.8%
2016	38	59.6%	94	45,431	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.0%
2017	39	69.9%	156	45,049	Suspension — 35.9%
2018	40	70.1%	77	46,321	Suspension — 22.1%
2019	41	74.1%	54	40,269	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 33.3%
2020	42	80.0%	35	48,184	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 37.1%
2021	43	75.8%	33	41,154	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 36.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Volkswagen Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

39.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

31.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

30.2%

— Consistent

Brakes

30.0%

— Consistent

Body, Structure and General Items

22.2%

↓ 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	17.5% (31 yrs)	15.2% (43 yrs)	-2.3%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	17.5% (31 yrs)	18.2% (43 yrs)	+0.7%	⚪ —

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 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 1,122 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.