1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age

53 years

Current Age

62.8%

Latest Pass Rate

8,309

Total Tests (All Years)

55,925 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 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan as it ages.

36 yrs46.2%

→ ↑3.7%

37 yrs49.9%

→ ↓0.2%

38 yrs49.7%

→ ↑2.9%

39 yrs52.6%

→ ↑2.7%

40 yrs55.3%

→ ↓1.4%

41 yrs53.9%

→ ↑1.8%

42 yrs55.7%

→ ↑0.2%

43 yrs55.9%

→ ↑2.9%

44 yrs58.8%

→ ↑1.1%

45 yrs59.9%

→ ↑1.6%

46 yrs61.5%

→ ↑5.0%

47 yrs66.5%

→ ↓6.4%

48 yrs60.1%

→ ↑2.5%

49 yrs62.6%

→ ↓0.6%

50 yrs62.0%

→ ↑0.8%

51 yrs62.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
36 yrs	46.2%	773
37 yrs	49.9%	751
38 yrs	49.7%	741
39 yrs	52.6%	715
40 yrs	55.3%	714
41 yrs	53.9%	712
42 yrs	55.7%	707
43 yrs	55.9%	730
44 yrs	58.8%	747
45 yrs	59.9%	299
46 yrs	61.5%	221
47 yrs	66.5%	155
48 yrs	60.1%	333
49 yrs	62.6%	243
50 yrs	62.0%	229
51 yrs	62.8%	239

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (51 yrs)	62.8%	239
2023 (50 yrs)	62%	229
2022 (49 yrs)	62.6%	243
2021 (48 yrs)	60.1%	333
2020 (47 yrs)	66.5%	155
2019 (46 yrs)	61.5%	221
2018 (45 yrs)	59.9%	299
2017 (44 yrs)	58.8%	747
2016 (43 yrs)	55.9%	730
2015 (42 yrs)	55.7%	707
2014 (41 yrs)	53.9%	712
2013 (40 yrs)	55.3%	714
2012 (39 yrs)	52.6%	715
2011 (38 yrs)	49.7%	741
2010 (37 yrs)	49.9%	751
2009 (36 yrs)	46.2%	773

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 773Avg Mileage 52,674Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.9%

2010High Fail Rate

49.9%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 751Avg Mileage 55,467Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.9%

2011High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 741Avg Mileage 52,621Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.1%

2012High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 715Avg Mileage 51,877Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%

2013High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 714Avg Mileage 53,799Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 74.4%

2014High Fail Rate

53.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 712Avg Mileage 52,674Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 77.0%

2015High Fail Rate

55.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 707Avg Mileage 54,032Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 75.0%

2016High Fail Rate

55.9%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 730Avg Mileage 53,751Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.5%

2017High Fail Rate

58.8%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 747Avg Mileage 52,860Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.8%

2018High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 299Avg Mileage 53,911Top Failure Suspension — 35.8%

2019High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 221Avg Mileage 54,224Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 67.0%

2020

66.5%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 155Avg Mileage 55,475Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.5%

2021High Fail Rate

60.1%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 333Avg Mileage 54,319Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 59.8%

2022High Fail Rate

62.6%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 243Avg Mileage 58,128Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.1%

2023High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 229Avg Mileage 59,106Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.7%

2024High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 239Avg Mileage 55,925Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 38.1%

MOT results for 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	36	46.2%	773	52,674	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.9%
2010	37	49.9%	751	55,467	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.9%
2011	38	49.7%	741	52,621	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.1%
2012	39	52.6%	715	51,877	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.7%
2013	40	55.3%	714	53,799	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 74.4%
2014	41	53.9%	712	52,674	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 77.0%
2015	42	55.7%	707	54,032	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 75.0%
2016	43	55.9%	730	53,751	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 69.5%
2017	44	58.8%	747	52,860	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.8%
2018	45	59.9%	299	53,911	Suspension — 35.8%
2019	46	61.5%	221	54,224	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 67.0%
2020	47	66.5%	155	55,475	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.5%
2021	48	60.1%	333	54,319	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 59.8%
2022	49	62.6%	243	58,128	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.1%
2023	50	62.0%	229	59,106	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 53.7%
2024	51	62.8%	239	55,925	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 38.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

52.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

51.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

40.5%

— Consistent

Brakes

39.8%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

28.9%

↑ 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
Brakes	30.1% (36 yrs)	31.4% (51 yrs)	+1.3%	⚪ —
Suspension	27.4% (36 yrs)	26.8% (51 yrs)	-0.6%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Motor Caravan cars manufactured in 1973 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 8,309 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.