1986 Volkswagen Polo — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1986 perform at MOT as they age

40 years

Current Age

51.2%

Latest Pass Rate

2,503

Total Tests (All Years)

73,340 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 1986 Volkswagen Polo as it ages.

23 yrs45.3%

→ ↑1.8%

24 yrs47.1%

→ ↑1.9%

25 yrs49.0%

→ ↓5.4%

26 yrs43.6%

→ ↑3.8%

27 yrs47.4%

→ ↑0.6%

28 yrs48.0%

→ ↑5.2%

29 yrs53.2%

→ ↑0.7%

30 yrs53.9%

→ ↓6.6%

31 yrs47.3%

→ ↑7.5%

32 yrs54.8%

→ ↑10.7%

33 yrs65.5%

→ ↓6.2%

34 yrs59.3%

→ ↑1.4%

35 yrs60.7%

→ ↑3.1%

36 yrs63.8%

→ ↓3.1%

37 yrs60.7%

→ ↓9.5%

38 yrs51.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
23 yrs	45.3%	477
24 yrs	47.1%	361
25 yrs	49.0%	290
26 yrs	43.6%	236
27 yrs	47.4%	190
28 yrs	48.0%	152
29 yrs	53.2%	126
30 yrs	53.9%	102
31 yrs	47.3%	93
32 yrs	54.8%	62
33 yrs	65.5%	55
34 yrs	59.3%	59
35 yrs	60.7%	56
36 yrs	63.8%	58
37 yrs	60.7%	61
38 yrs	51.2%	125

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1986 Volkswagen Polo pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (38 yrs)	51.2%	125
2023 (37 yrs)	60.7%	61
2022 (36 yrs)	63.8%	58
2021 (35 yrs)	60.7%	56
2020 (34 yrs)	59.3%	59
2019 (33 yrs)	65.5%	55
2018 (32 yrs)	54.8%	62
2017 (31 yrs)	47.3%	93
2016 (30 yrs)	53.9%	102
2015 (29 yrs)	53.2%	126
2014 (28 yrs)	48%	152
2013 (27 yrs)	47.4%	190
2012 (26 yrs)	43.6%	236
2011 (25 yrs)	49%	290
2010 (24 yrs)	47.1%	361
2009 (23 yrs)	45.3%	477

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

45.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 477Avg Mileage 72,415Top Failure Suspension — 33.5%

2010High Fail Rate

47.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 361Avg Mileage 73,953Top Failure Suspension — 33.2%

2011High Fail Rate

49.0%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 290Avg Mileage 74,738Top Failure Suspension — 33.4%

2012High Fail Rate

43.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 236Avg Mileage 71,931Top Failure Suspension — 36.0%

2013High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 190Avg Mileage 74,949Top Failure Suspension — 88.4%

2014High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 152Avg Mileage 74,331Top Failure Suspension — 99.3%

2015High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 126Avg Mileage 77,524Top Failure Suspension — 64.3%

2016High Fail Rate

53.9%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 102Avg Mileage 76,421Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.7%

2017High Fail Rate

47.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 93Avg Mileage 79,062Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 96.8%

2018High Fail Rate

54.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 62Avg Mileage 82,591Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.5%

2019

65.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 55Avg Mileage 76,338Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 63.6%

2020High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 59Avg Mileage 77,462Top Failure Brakes — 67.8%

2021High Fail Rate

60.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 56Avg Mileage 73,146Top Failure Suspension — 62.5%

2022High Fail Rate

63.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 58Avg Mileage 75,542Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.9%

2023High Fail Rate

60.7%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 61Avg Mileage 74,481Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 65.6%

2024High Fail Rate

51.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 125Avg Mileage 73,340Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.2%

MOT results for 1986 Volkswagen Polo by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	23	45.3%	477	72,415	Suspension — 33.5%
2010	24	47.1%	361	73,953	Suspension — 33.2%
2011	25	49.0%	290	74,738	Suspension — 33.4%
2012	26	43.6%	236	71,931	Suspension — 36.0%
2013	27	47.4%	190	74,949	Suspension — 88.4%
2014	28	48.0%	152	74,331	Suspension — 99.3%
2015	29	53.2%	126	77,524	Suspension — 64.3%
2016	30	53.9%	102	76,421	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.7%
2017	31	47.3%	93	79,062	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 96.8%
2018	32	54.8%	62	82,591	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.5%
2019	33	65.5%	55	76,338	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 63.6%
2020	34	59.3%	59	77,462	Brakes — 67.8%
2021	35	60.7%	56	73,146	Suspension — 62.5%
2022	36	63.8%	58	75,542	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 56.9%
2023	37	60.7%	61	74,481	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 65.6%
2024	38	51.2%	125	73,340	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1986 Volkswagen Polo, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

57.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

54.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

52.7%

— Consistent

Brakes

42.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

30.9%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	24.9% (23 yrs)	20.8% (38 yrs)	-4.1%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	33.5% (23 yrs)	31.2% (38 yrs)	-2.3%	🟢 ↓

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 1986 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,503 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.