1981 Volkswagen Golf — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

83.9%

Latest Pass Rate

2,219

Total Tests (All Years)

66,485 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 1981 Volkswagen Golf as it ages.

28 yrs49.2%

→ ↓7.0%

29 yrs42.2%

→ ↑7.8%

30 yrs50.0%

→ ↑9.9%

31 yrs59.9%

→ ↓9.1%

32 yrs50.8%

→ ↑6.7%

33 yrs57.5%

→ ↓4.7%

34 yrs52.8%

→ ↑1.3%

35 yrs54.1%

→ ↑6.1%

36 yrs60.2%

→ ↓0.0%

37 yrs60.2%

→ ↑8.1%

38 yrs68.3%

→ ↓4.0%

39 yrs64.3%

→ ↑6.6%

40 yrs70.9%

→ ↑13.1%

41 yrs84.0%

→ ↓7.3%

42 yrs76.7%

→ ↑7.2%

43 yrs83.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	49.2%	250
29 yrs	42.2%	230
30 yrs	50.0%	206
31 yrs	59.9%	192
32 yrs	50.8%	189
33 yrs	57.5%	160
34 yrs	52.8%	163
35 yrs	54.1%	148
36 yrs	60.2%	161
37 yrs	60.2%	98
38 yrs	68.3%	104
39 yrs	64.3%	84
40 yrs	70.9%	110
41 yrs	84.0%	50
42 yrs	76.7%	43
43 yrs	83.9%	31

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Volkswagen Golf pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (43 yrs)	83.9%	31
2023 (42 yrs)	76.7%	43
2022 (41 yrs)	84%	50
2021 (40 yrs)	70.9%	110
2020 (39 yrs)	64.3%	84
2019 (38 yrs)	68.3%	104
2018 (37 yrs)	60.2%	98
2017 (36 yrs)	60.2%	161
2016 (35 yrs)	54.1%	148
2015 (34 yrs)	52.8%	163
2014 (33 yrs)	57.5%	160
2013 (32 yrs)	50.8%	189
2012 (31 yrs)	59.9%	192
2011 (30 yrs)	50%	206
2010 (29 yrs)	42.2%	230
2009 (28 yrs)	49.2%	250

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 250Avg Mileage 95,775Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.6%

2010High Fail Rate

42.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 230Avg Mileage 97,570Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.7%

2011High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 206Avg Mileage 102,562Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%

2012High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 192Avg Mileage 94,185Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.0%

2013High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 189Avg Mileage 91,306Top Failure Brakes — 87.3%

2014High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 160Avg Mileage 94,348Top Failure Brakes — 56.9%

2015High Fail Rate

52.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 163Avg Mileage 96,769Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 98.8%

2016High Fail Rate

54.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 148Avg Mileage 90,888Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 89.9%

2017High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 161Avg Mileage 93,285Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.4%

2018High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 98Avg Mileage 99,794Top Failure Suspension — 52.0%

2019

68.3%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 104Avg Mileage 96,134Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 44.2%

2020High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 84Avg Mileage 88,071Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 69.0%

2021

70.9%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 110Avg Mileage 87,839Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 50.0%

2022

84.0%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 50Avg Mileage 87,567Top Failure Brakes — 22.0%

2023

76.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 43Avg Mileage 76,007Top Failure Brakes — 44.2%

2024

83.9%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 31Avg Mileage 66,485Top Failure Body, chassis, structure — 80.6%

MOT results for 1981 Volkswagen Golf by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	49.2%	250	95,775	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.6%
2010	29	42.2%	230	97,570	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.7%
2011	30	50.0%	206	102,562	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%
2012	31	59.9%	192	94,185	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.0%
2013	32	50.8%	189	91,306	Brakes — 87.3%
2014	33	57.5%	160	94,348	Brakes — 56.9%
2015	34	52.8%	163	96,769	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 98.8%
2016	35	54.1%	148	90,888	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 89.9%
2017	36	60.2%	161	93,285	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.4%
2018	37	60.2%	98	99,794	Suspension — 52.0%
2019	38	68.3%	104	96,134	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 44.2%
2020	39	64.3%	84	88,071	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 69.0%
2021	40	70.9%	110	87,839	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 50.0%
2022	41	84.0%	50	87,567	Brakes — 22.0%
2023	42	76.7%	43	76,007	Brakes — 44.2%
2024	43	83.9%	31	66,485	Body, chassis, structure — 80.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Volkswagen Golf, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

56.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

40.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

39.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

36.7%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

29.0%

↑ 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	25.6% (28 yrs)	38.7% (43 yrs)	+13.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volkswagen Golf page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Golf cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,219 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.