1985 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

82.7%

Latest Pass Rate

423

Total Tests (All Years)

39,350 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 1985 Volkswagen Beetle as it ages.

24 yrs51.2%

→ ↑0.1%

25 yrs51.3%

→ ↑8.1%

26 yrs59.4%

→ ↑1.7%

27 yrs61.1%

→ ↑9.2%

28 yrs70.3%

→ ↑3.9%

29 yrs74.2%

→ ↓13.1%

30 yrs61.1%

→ ↑13.9%

31 yrs75.0%

→ ↓8.3%

32 yrs66.7%

→ ↑10.8%

38 yrs77.5%

→ ↑5.2%

39 yrs82.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	51.2%	41
25 yrs	51.3%	39
26 yrs	59.4%	32
27 yrs	61.1%	36
28 yrs	70.3%	37
29 yrs	74.2%	31
30 yrs	61.1%	36
31 yrs	75.0%	40
32 yrs	66.7%	39
38 yrs	77.5%	40
39 yrs	82.7%	52

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Volkswagen Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	82.7%	52
2023 (38 yrs)	77.5%	40
2017 (32 yrs)	66.7%	39
2016 (31 yrs)	75%	40
2015 (30 yrs)	61.1%	36
2014 (29 yrs)	74.2%	31
2013 (28 yrs)	70.3%	37
2012 (27 yrs)	61.1%	36
2011 (26 yrs)	59.4%	32
2010 (25 yrs)	51.3%	39
2009 (24 yrs)	51.2%	41

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 41Avg Mileage 52,880Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.5%

2010High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 39Avg Mileage 52,085Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.0%

2011High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 32Avg Mileage 44,656Top Failure Brakes — 25.0%

2012High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 36Avg Mileage 47,684Top Failure Suspension — 30.6%

2013

70.3%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 37Avg Mileage 47,734Top Failure Brakes — 56.8%

2014

74.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 31Avg Mileage 45,502Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.3%

2015High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 36Avg Mileage 50,011Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.2%

2016

75.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 40Avg Mileage 46,760Top Failure Brakes — 40.0%

2017

66.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 39Avg Mileage 52,923Top Failure Suspension — 56.4%

2023

77.5%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 40Avg Mileage 41,172Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 32.5%

2024

82.7%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 52Avg Mileage 39,350Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 13.5%

MOT results for 1985 Volkswagen Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	51.2%	41	52,880	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.5%
2010	25	51.3%	39	52,085	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.0%
2011	26	59.4%	32	44,656	Brakes — 25.0%
2012	27	61.1%	36	47,684	Suspension — 30.6%
2013	28	70.3%	37	47,734	Brakes — 56.8%
2014	29	74.2%	31	45,502	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.3%
2015	30	61.1%	36	50,011	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.2%
2016	31	75.0%	40	46,760	Brakes — 40.0%
2017	32	66.7%	39	52,923	Suspension — 56.4%
2023	38	77.5%	40	41,172	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 32.5%
2024	39	82.7%	52	39,350	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 13.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Volkswagen Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

41.5%

— Consistent

Suspension

35.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

30.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Steering

19.4%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	24.4% (24 yrs)	5.8% (39 yrs)	-18.6%	🟢 ↓

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 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 423 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.