2004 Volkswagen Beetle — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 2004 perform at MOT as they age

22 years

Current Age

49.4%

Latest Pass Rate

108,827

Total Tests (All Years)

105,169 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 49.4%

Average: 56.6%

⚠️ 7.2% below average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle as it ages.

5 yrs74.2%

→ ↓1.7%

6 yrs72.5%

→ ↓3.7%

7 yrs68.8%

→ ↓3.0%

8 yrs65.8%

→ ↓7.5%

9 yrs58.3%

→ ↓1.7%

10 yrs56.6%

→ ↓1.7%

11 yrs54.9%

→ ↑0.3%

12 yrs55.2%

→ ↓2.2%

13 yrs53.0%

→ ↓3.0%

14 yrs50.0%

→ ↓1.7%

15 yrs48.3%

→ ↓0.9%

16 yrs47.4%

→ ↑0.9%

17 yrs48.3%

→ ↓1.1%

18 yrs47.2%

→ ↑0.5%

19 yrs47.7%

→ ↑1.7%

20 yrs49.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
5 yrs	74.2%	8,517
6 yrs	72.5%	8,423
7 yrs	68.8%	8,485
8 yrs	65.8%	8,497
9 yrs	58.3%	8,471
10 yrs	56.6%	8,440
11 yrs	54.9%	8,379
12 yrs	55.2%	8,146
13 yrs	53.0%	7,973
14 yrs	50.0%	5,478
15 yrs	48.3%	5,381
16 yrs	47.4%	4,821
17 yrs	48.3%	5,553
18 yrs	47.2%	4,072
19 yrs	47.7%	4,202
20 yrs	49.4%	3,989

Pass Rate Trend

How the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (20 yrs)	49.4%	3,989
2023 (19 yrs)	47.7%	4,202
2022 (18 yrs)	47.2%	4,072
2021 (17 yrs)	48.3%	5,553
2020 (16 yrs)	47.4%	4,821
2019 (15 yrs)	48.3%	5,381
2018 (14 yrs)	50%	5,478
2017 (13 yrs)	53%	7,973
2016 (12 yrs)	55.2%	8,146
2015 (11 yrs)	54.9%	8,379
2014 (10 yrs)	56.6%	8,440
2013 (9 yrs)	58.3%	8,471
2012 (8 yrs)	65.8%	8,497
2011 (7 yrs)	68.8%	8,485
2010 (6 yrs)	72.5%	8,423
2009 (5 yrs)	74.2%	8,517

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

74.2%

Age (yrs) 5Tests 8,517Avg Mileage 40,955Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.9%

2010

72.5%

Age (yrs) 6Tests 8,423Avg Mileage 48,342Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.2%

2011

68.8%

Age (yrs) 7Tests 8,485Avg Mileage 54,937Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%

2012

65.8%

Age (yrs) 8Tests 8,497Avg Mileage 61,978Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.9%

2013High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 9Tests 8,471Avg Mileage 68,189Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.1%

2014High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 8,440Avg Mileage 74,203Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.0%

2015High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 8,379Avg Mileage 79,986Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.7%

2016High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 8,146Avg Mileage 85,446Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.7%

2017High Fail Rate

53.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 7,973Avg Mileage 90,719Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.0%

2018High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 5,478Avg Mileage 94,642Top Failure Brakes — 49.3%

2019High Fail Rate

48.3%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 5,381Avg Mileage 98,148Top Failure Brakes — 55.0%

2020High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 4,821Avg Mileage 101,484Top Failure Brakes — 63.5%

2021High Fail Rate

48.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 5,553Avg Mileage 101,734Top Failure Brakes — 66.2%

2022High Fail Rate

47.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 4,072Avg Mileage 103,187Top Failure Brakes — 64.3%

2023High Fail Rate

47.7%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 4,202Avg Mileage 104,162Top Failure Brakes — 72.3%

2024High Fail Rate

49.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 3,989Avg Mileage 105,169Top Failure Brakes — 61.7%

MOT results for 2004 Volkswagen Beetle by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	5	74.2%	8,517	40,955	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.9%
2010	6	72.5%	8,423	48,342	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.2%
2011	7	68.8%	8,485	54,937	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.7%
2012	8	65.8%	8,497	61,978	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.9%
2013	9	58.3%	8,471	68,189	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.1%
2014	10	56.6%	8,440	74,203	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.0%
2015	11	54.9%	8,379	79,986	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.7%
2016	12	55.2%	8,146	85,446	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.7%
2017	13	53.0%	7,973	90,719	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 44.0%
2018	14	50.0%	5,478	94,642	Brakes — 49.3%
2019	15	48.3%	5,381	98,148	Brakes — 55.0%
2020	16	47.4%	4,821	101,484	Brakes — 63.5%
2021	17	48.3%	5,553	101,734	Brakes — 66.2%
2022	18	47.2%	4,072	103,187	Brakes — 64.3%
2023	19	47.7%	4,202	104,162	Brakes — 72.3%
2024	20	49.4%	3,989	105,169	Brakes — 61.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 2004 Volkswagen Beetle, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

54.4%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

38.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

34.3%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

32.2%

— Consistent

Noise, emissions and leaks

30.6%

↑ 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
Brakes	8.2% (5 yrs)	61.7% (20 yrs)	+53.5%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	10.0% (5 yrs)	30.4% (20 yrs)	+20.4%	🔴 ↑

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 2004 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 108,827 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.