1990 Volkswagen Polo — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1990 perform at MOT as they age

36 years

Current Age

65.6%

Latest Pass Rate

8,673

Total Tests (All Years)

81,952 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 1990 Volkswagen Polo as it ages.

19 yrs44.2%

→ ↑1.3%

20 yrs45.5%

→ ↑2.9%

21 yrs48.4%

→ ↓0.1%

22 yrs48.3%

→ ↓0.9%

23 yrs47.4%

→ ↓2.3%

24 yrs45.1%

→ ↑4.4%

25 yrs49.5%

→ ↑1.2%

26 yrs50.7%

→ ↑5.0%

27 yrs55.7%

→ ↓1.8%

28 yrs53.9%

→ ↓0.0%

29 yrs53.9%

→ ↑2.8%

30 yrs56.7%

→ ↑3.5%

31 yrs60.2%

→ ↓6.0%

32 yrs54.2%

→ ↑2.0%

33 yrs56.2%

→ ↑9.4%

34 yrs65.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
19 yrs	44.2%	1,818
20 yrs	45.5%	1,343
21 yrs	48.4%	1,033
22 yrs	48.3%	779
23 yrs	47.4%	614
24 yrs	45.1%	505
25 yrs	49.5%	426
26 yrs	50.7%	363
27 yrs	55.7%	309
28 yrs	53.9%	206
29 yrs	53.9%	191
30 yrs	56.7%	178
31 yrs	60.2%	236
32 yrs	54.2%	155
33 yrs	56.2%	194
34 yrs	65.6%	323

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1990 Volkswagen Polo pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (34 yrs)	65.6%	323
2023 (33 yrs)	56.2%	194
2022 (32 yrs)	54.2%	155
2021 (31 yrs)	60.2%	236
2020 (30 yrs)	56.7%	178
2019 (29 yrs)	53.9%	191
2018 (28 yrs)	53.9%	206
2017 (27 yrs)	55.7%	309
2016 (26 yrs)	50.7%	363
2015 (25 yrs)	49.5%	426
2014 (24 yrs)	45.1%	505
2013 (23 yrs)	47.4%	614
2012 (22 yrs)	48.3%	779
2011 (21 yrs)	48.4%	1,033
2010 (20 yrs)	45.5%	1,343
2009 (19 yrs)	44.2%	1,818

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

44.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,818Avg Mileage 79,908Top Failure Suspension — 34.4%

2010High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 1,343Avg Mileage 79,919Top Failure Suspension — 32.8%

2011High Fail Rate

48.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 1,033Avg Mileage 78,801Top Failure Suspension — 33.9%

2012High Fail Rate

48.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 779Avg Mileage 78,158Top Failure Suspension — 34.5%

2013High Fail Rate

47.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 614Avg Mileage 77,825Top Failure Suspension — 81.1%

2014High Fail Rate

45.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 505Avg Mileage 80,554Top Failure Suspension — 74.3%

2015High Fail Rate

49.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 426Avg Mileage 83,690Top Failure Suspension — 89.9%

2016High Fail Rate

50.7%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 363Avg Mileage 82,868Top Failure Suspension — 91.7%

2017High Fail Rate

55.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 309Avg Mileage 86,049Top Failure Suspension — 68.0%

2018High Fail Rate

53.9%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 206Avg Mileage 83,359Top Failure Suspension — 71.4%

2019High Fail Rate

53.9%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 191Avg Mileage 86,451Top Failure Suspension — 72.8%

2020High Fail Rate

56.7%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 178Avg Mileage 86,819Top Failure Suspension — 66.3%

2021High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 236Avg Mileage 81,231Top Failure Suspension — 52.5%

2022High Fail Rate

54.2%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 155Avg Mileage 79,305Top Failure Suspension — 55.5%

2023High Fail Rate

56.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 194Avg Mileage 84,760Top Failure Suspension — 61.9%

2024

65.6%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 323Avg Mileage 81,952Top Failure Suspension — 47.7%

MOT results for 1990 Volkswagen Polo by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	19	44.2%	1,818	79,908	Suspension — 34.4%
2010	20	45.5%	1,343	79,919	Suspension — 32.8%
2011	21	48.4%	1,033	78,801	Suspension — 33.9%
2012	22	48.3%	779	78,158	Suspension — 34.5%
2013	23	47.4%	614	77,825	Suspension — 81.1%
2014	24	45.1%	505	80,554	Suspension — 74.3%
2015	25	49.5%	426	83,690	Suspension — 89.9%
2016	26	50.7%	363	82,868	Suspension — 91.7%
2017	27	55.7%	309	86,049	Suspension — 68.0%
2018	28	53.9%	206	83,359	Suspension — 71.4%
2019	29	53.9%	191	86,451	Suspension — 72.8%
2020	30	56.7%	178	86,819	Suspension — 66.3%
2021	31	60.2%	236	81,231	Suspension — 52.5%
2022	32	54.2%	155	79,305	Suspension — 55.5%
2023	33	56.2%	194	84,760	Suspension — 61.9%
2024	34	65.6%	323	81,952	Suspension — 47.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1990 Volkswagen Polo, with age trends.

Suspension

60.5%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

49.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

40.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

39.2%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

35.0%

↓ 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
Suspension	34.4% (19 yrs)	47.7% (34 yrs)	+13.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	29.4% (19 yrs)	39.9% (34 yrs)	+10.5%	🔴 ↑

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 1990 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 8,673 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.