1998 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

73.7%

Latest Pass Rate

650

Total Tests (All Years)

66,479 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 1998 Volkswagen Beetle as it ages.

11 yrs54.9%

→ ↓14.2%

12 yrs40.7%

→ ↑5.6%

13 yrs46.3%

→ ↓5.7%

14 yrs40.6%

→ ↑12.5%

15 yrs53.1%

→ ↓1.3%

16 yrs51.8%

→ ↑7.8%

17 yrs59.6%

→ ↓7.2%

18 yrs52.4%

→ ↑9.5%

19 yrs61.9%

→ ↑11.8%

26 yrs73.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	54.9%	102
12 yrs	40.7%	91
13 yrs	46.3%	80
14 yrs	40.6%	69
15 yrs	53.1%	64
16 yrs	51.8%	56
17 yrs	59.6%	47
18 yrs	52.4%	42
19 yrs	61.9%	42
26 yrs	73.7%	57

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Volkswagen Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	73.7%	57
2017 (19 yrs)	61.9%	42
2016 (18 yrs)	52.4%	42
2015 (17 yrs)	59.6%	47
2014 (16 yrs)	51.8%	56
2013 (15 yrs)	53.1%	64
2012 (14 yrs)	40.6%	69
2011 (13 yrs)	46.3%	80
2010 (12 yrs)	40.7%	91
2009 (11 yrs)	54.9%	102

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 102Avg Mileage 83,462Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%

2010High Fail Rate

40.7%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 91Avg Mileage 93,152Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.4%

2011High Fail Rate

46.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 80Avg Mileage 89,373Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.3%

2012High Fail Rate

40.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 69Avg Mileage 90,023Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.2%

2013High Fail Rate

53.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 64Avg Mileage 91,198Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 62.5%

2014High Fail Rate

51.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 56Avg Mileage 95,291Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.2%

2015High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 47Avg Mileage 97,768Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 63.8%

2016High Fail Rate

52.4%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 42Avg Mileage 95,364Top Failure Brakes — 64.3%

2017High Fail Rate

61.9%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 42Avg Mileage 92,573Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 95.2%

2024

73.7%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 57Avg Mileage 66,479Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 26.3%

MOT results for 1998 Volkswagen Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	54.9%	102	83,462	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%
2010	12	40.7%	91	93,152	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 37.4%
2011	13	46.3%	80	89,373	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.3%
2012	14	40.6%	69	90,023	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.2%
2013	15	53.1%	64	91,198	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 62.5%
2014	16	51.8%	56	95,291	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 73.2%
2015	17	59.6%	47	97,768	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 63.8%
2016	18	52.4%	42	95,364	Brakes — 64.3%
2017	19	61.9%	42	92,573	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 95.2%
2024	26	73.7%	57	66,479	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 26.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Volkswagen Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

53.1%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

37.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

33.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

26.3%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

20.9%

↑ Increases 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	13.7% (11 yrs)	19.3% (26 yrs)	+5.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.6% (11 yrs)	26.3% (26 yrs)	+4.7%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 650 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.