1985 Volkswagen Polo — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

75.9%

Latest Pass Rate

2,277

Total Tests (All Years)

66,492 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 Polo as it ages.

24 yrs47.1%

→ ↓4.8%

25 yrs42.3%

→ ↑8.7%

26 yrs51.0%

→ ↑4.3%

27 yrs55.3%

→ ↓14.8%

28 yrs40.5%

→ ↑9.9%

29 yrs50.4%

→ ↓0.4%

30 yrs50.0%

→ ↑6.0%

31 yrs56.0%

→ ↓3.5%

32 yrs52.5%

→ ↓0.1%

33 yrs52.4%

→ ↑3.0%

34 yrs55.4%

→ ↑7.6%

35 yrs63.0%

→ ↑6.8%

36 yrs69.8%

→ ↓6.5%

37 yrs63.3%

→ ↓3.6%

38 yrs59.7%

→ ↑16.2%

39 yrs75.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	47.1%	412
25 yrs	42.3%	317
26 yrs	51.0%	257
27 yrs	55.3%	197
28 yrs	40.5%	163
29 yrs	50.4%	137
30 yrs	50.0%	120
31 yrs	56.0%	116
32 yrs	52.5%	99
33 yrs	52.4%	63
34 yrs	55.4%	56
35 yrs	63.0%	54
36 yrs	69.8%	63
37 yrs	63.3%	49
38 yrs	59.7%	62
39 yrs	75.9%	112

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	75.9%	112
2023 (38 yrs)	59.7%	62
2022 (37 yrs)	63.3%	49
2021 (36 yrs)	69.8%	63
2020 (35 yrs)	63%	54
2019 (34 yrs)	55.4%	56
2018 (33 yrs)	52.4%	63
2017 (32 yrs)	52.5%	99
2016 (31 yrs)	56%	116
2015 (30 yrs)	50%	120
2014 (29 yrs)	50.4%	137
2013 (28 yrs)	40.5%	163
2012 (27 yrs)	55.3%	197
2011 (26 yrs)	51%	257
2010 (25 yrs)	42.3%	317
2009 (24 yrs)	47.1%	412

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

47.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 412Avg Mileage 73,651Top Failure Suspension — 33.5%

2010High Fail Rate

42.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 317Avg Mileage 71,420Top Failure Suspension — 35.6%

2011High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 257Avg Mileage 72,735Top Failure Suspension — 33.1%

2012High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 197Avg Mileage 68,046Top Failure Suspension — 31.5%

2013High Fail Rate

40.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 163Avg Mileage 74,315Top Failure Suspension — 103.7%

2014High Fail Rate

50.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 137Avg Mileage 67,756Top Failure Suspension — 87.6%

2015High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 120Avg Mileage 73,516Top Failure Suspension — 90.8%

2016High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 116Avg Mileage 74,420Top Failure Suspension — 56.0%

2017High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 99Avg Mileage 75,950Top Failure Brakes — 57.6%

2018High Fail Rate

52.4%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 63Avg Mileage 84,088Top Failure Suspension — 58.7%

2019High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 56Avg Mileage 71,839Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 89.3%

2020High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 54Avg Mileage 67,431Top Failure Brakes — 51.9%

2021

69.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 63Avg Mileage 73,238Top Failure Brakes — 42.9%

2022High Fail Rate

63.3%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 49Avg Mileage 69,345Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 71.4%

2023High Fail Rate

59.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 62Avg Mileage 59,398Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 66.1%

2024

75.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 112Avg Mileage 66,492Top Failure Brakes — 37.5%

MOT results for 1985 Volkswagen Polo by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	47.1%	412	73,651	Suspension — 33.5%
2010	25	42.3%	317	71,420	Suspension — 35.6%
2011	26	51.0%	257	72,735	Suspension — 33.1%
2012	27	55.3%	197	68,046	Suspension — 31.5%
2013	28	40.5%	163	74,315	Suspension — 103.7%
2014	29	50.4%	137	67,756	Suspension — 87.6%
2015	30	50.0%	120	73,516	Suspension — 90.8%
2016	31	56.0%	116	74,420	Suspension — 56.0%
2017	32	52.5%	99	75,950	Brakes — 57.6%
2018	33	52.4%	63	84,088	Suspension — 58.7%
2019	34	55.4%	56	71,839	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 89.3%
2020	35	63.0%	54	67,431	Brakes — 51.9%
2021	36	69.8%	63	73,238	Brakes — 42.9%
2022	37	63.3%	49	69,345	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 71.4%
2023	38	59.7%	62	59,398	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 66.1%
2024	39	75.9%	112	66,492	Brakes — 37.5%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

55.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

53.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

45.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

44.0%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

34.1%

↑ 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	23.3% (24 yrs)	37.5% (39 yrs)	+14.2%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	33.5% (24 yrs)	28.6% (39 yrs)	-4.9%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Polo cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,277 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.