1987 Volkswagen Polo — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age

39 years

Current Age

48.7%

Latest Pass Rate

2,677

Total Tests (All Years)

84,454 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 1987 Volkswagen Polo as it ages.

22 yrs41.3%

→ ↑2.2%

23 yrs43.5%

→ ↑0.2%

24 yrs43.7%

→ ↑3.2%

25 yrs46.9%

→ ↑0.3%

26 yrs47.2%

→ ↓5.5%

27 yrs41.7%

→ ↑4.4%

28 yrs46.1%

→ ↑7.5%

29 yrs53.6%

→ ↓2.6%

30 yrs51.0%

→ ↓2.6%

31 yrs48.4%

→ ↑6.0%

32 yrs54.4%

→ ↑1.7%

33 yrs56.1%

→ ↑4.9%

34 yrs61.0%

→ ↓13.7%

35 yrs47.3%

→ ↑12.4%

36 yrs59.7%

→ ↓11.0%

37 yrs48.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
22 yrs	41.3%	557
23 yrs	43.5%	402
24 yrs	43.7%	311
25 yrs	46.9%	226
26 yrs	47.2%	180
27 yrs	41.7%	156
28 yrs	46.1%	128
29 yrs	53.6%	112
30 yrs	51.0%	98
31 yrs	48.4%	64
32 yrs	54.4%	68
33 yrs	56.1%	57
34 yrs	61.0%	77
35 yrs	47.3%	55
36 yrs	59.7%	67
37 yrs	48.7%	119

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1987 Volkswagen Polo pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (37 yrs)	48.7%	119
2023 (36 yrs)	59.7%	67
2022 (35 yrs)	47.3%	55
2021 (34 yrs)	61%	77
2020 (33 yrs)	56.1%	57
2019 (32 yrs)	54.4%	68
2018 (31 yrs)	48.4%	64
2017 (30 yrs)	51%	98
2016 (29 yrs)	53.6%	112
2015 (28 yrs)	46.1%	128
2014 (27 yrs)	41.7%	156
2013 (26 yrs)	47.2%	180
2012 (25 yrs)	46.9%	226
2011 (24 yrs)	43.7%	311
2010 (23 yrs)	43.5%	402
2009 (22 yrs)	41.3%	557

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

41.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 557Avg Mileage 79,076Top Failure Suspension — 36.8%

2010High Fail Rate

43.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 402Avg Mileage 76,416Top Failure Suspension — 34.3%

2011High Fail Rate

43.7%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 311Avg Mileage 74,506Top Failure Suspension — 37.0%

2012High Fail Rate

46.9%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 226Avg Mileage 80,477Top Failure Suspension — 36.7%

2013High Fail Rate

47.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 180Avg Mileage 74,083Top Failure Suspension — 76.1%

2014High Fail Rate

41.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 156Avg Mileage 70,756Top Failure Suspension — 82.7%

2015High Fail Rate

46.1%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 128Avg Mileage 74,594Top Failure Suspension — 81.3%

2016High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 112Avg Mileage 73,712Top Failure Suspension — 69.6%

2017High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 98Avg Mileage 72,300Top Failure Suspension — 79.6%

2018High Fail Rate

48.4%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 64Avg Mileage 75,223Top Failure Suspension — 98.4%

2019High Fail Rate

54.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 68Avg Mileage 68,524Top Failure Suspension — 58.8%

2020High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 57Avg Mileage 85,565Top Failure Suspension — 68.4%

2021High Fail Rate

61.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 77Avg Mileage 76,162Top Failure Suspension — 61.0%

2022High Fail Rate

47.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 55Avg Mileage 77,199Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.0%

2023High Fail Rate

59.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 67Avg Mileage 73,757Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 62.7%

2024High Fail Rate

48.7%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 119Avg Mileage 84,454Top Failure Brakes — 71.4%

MOT results for 1987 Volkswagen Polo by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	22	41.3%	557	79,076	Suspension — 36.8%
2010	23	43.5%	402	76,416	Suspension — 34.3%
2011	24	43.7%	311	74,506	Suspension — 37.0%
2012	25	46.9%	226	80,477	Suspension — 36.7%
2013	26	47.2%	180	74,083	Suspension — 76.1%
2014	27	41.7%	156	70,756	Suspension — 82.7%
2015	28	46.1%	128	74,594	Suspension — 81.3%
2016	29	53.6%	112	73,712	Suspension — 69.6%
2017	30	51.0%	98	72,300	Suspension — 79.6%
2018	31	48.4%	64	75,223	Suspension — 98.4%
2019	32	54.4%	68	68,524	Suspension — 58.8%
2020	33	56.1%	57	85,565	Suspension — 68.4%
2021	34	61.0%	77	76,162	Suspension — 61.0%
2022	35	47.3%	55	77,199	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.0%
2023	36	59.7%	67	73,757	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 62.7%
2024	37	48.7%	119	84,454	Brakes — 71.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1987 Volkswagen Polo, with age trends.

Suspension

61.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

49.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

48.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

47.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

39.1%

↓ Decreases 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	27.8% (22 yrs)	71.4% (37 yrs)	+43.6%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	15.4% (22 yrs)	33.6% (37 yrs)	+18.2%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	36.8% (22 yrs)	48.7% (37 yrs)	+11.9%	🔴 ↑

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 1987 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,677 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.