1981 Volkswagen Unclassified — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

50.0%

Latest Pass Rate

1,168

Total Tests (All Years)

59,259 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 1981 Volkswagen Unclassified as it ages.

28 yrs30.7%

→ ↑7.3%

29 yrs38.0%

→ ↑2.0%

30 yrs40.0%

→ ↑4.7%

31 yrs44.7%

→ ↓8.2%

32 yrs36.5%

→ ↑6.1%

33 yrs42.6%

→ ↑5.3%

34 yrs47.9%

→ ↑15.6%

35 yrs63.5%

→ ↓18.7%

36 yrs44.8%

→ ↑1.0%

37 yrs45.8%

→ ↑13.8%

38 yrs59.6%

→ ↓2.5%

39 yrs57.1%

→ ↓7.1%

40 yrs50.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	30.7%	192
29 yrs	38.0%	158
30 yrs	40.0%	135
31 yrs	44.7%	103
32 yrs	36.5%	63
33 yrs	42.6%	54
34 yrs	47.9%	71
35 yrs	63.5%	74
36 yrs	44.8%	87
37 yrs	45.8%	59
38 yrs	59.6%	52
39 yrs	57.1%	56
40 yrs	50.0%	64

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Volkswagen Unclassified pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (40 yrs)	50%	64
2020 (39 yrs)	57.1%	56
2019 (38 yrs)	59.6%	52
2018 (37 yrs)	45.8%	59
2017 (36 yrs)	44.8%	87
2016 (35 yrs)	63.5%	74
2015 (34 yrs)	47.9%	71
2014 (33 yrs)	42.6%	54
2013 (32 yrs)	36.5%	63
2012 (31 yrs)	44.7%	103
2011 (30 yrs)	40%	135
2010 (29 yrs)	38%	158
2009 (28 yrs)	30.7%	192

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

30.7%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 192Avg Mileage 62,321Top Failure Brakes — 40.6%

2010High Fail Rate

38.0%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 158Avg Mileage 58,430Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.6%

2011High Fail Rate

40.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 135Avg Mileage 57,768Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%

2012High Fail Rate

44.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 103Avg Mileage 72,896Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%

2013High Fail Rate

36.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 63Avg Mileage 67,337Top Failure Suspension — 146.0%

2014High Fail Rate

42.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 54Avg Mileage 62,078Top Failure Suspension — 120.4%

2015High Fail Rate

47.9%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 71Avg Mileage 63,295Top Failure Suspension — 109.9%

2016High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 74Avg Mileage 62,275Top Failure Suspension — 86.5%

2017High Fail Rate

44.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 87Avg Mileage 62,343Top Failure Suspension — 106.9%

2018High Fail Rate

45.8%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 59Avg Mileage 65,547Top Failure Suspension — 100.0%

2019High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 52Avg Mileage 60,549Top Failure Suspension — 80.8%

2020High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 56Avg Mileage 66,596Top Failure Brakes — 73.2%

2021High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 64Avg Mileage 59,259Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 70.3%

MOT results for 1981 Volkswagen Unclassified by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	30.7%	192	62,321	Brakes — 40.6%
2010	29	38.0%	158	58,430	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.6%
2011	30	40.0%	135	57,768	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%
2012	31	44.7%	103	72,896	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%
2013	32	36.5%	63	67,337	Suspension — 146.0%
2014	33	42.6%	54	62,078	Suspension — 120.4%
2015	34	47.9%	71	63,295	Suspension — 109.9%
2016	35	63.5%	74	62,275	Suspension — 86.5%
2017	36	44.8%	87	62,343	Suspension — 106.9%
2018	37	45.8%	59	65,547	Suspension — 100.0%
2019	38	59.6%	52	60,549	Suspension — 80.8%
2020	39	57.1%	56	66,596	Brakes — 73.2%
2021	40	50.0%	64	59,259	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 70.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Volkswagen Unclassified, with age trends.

Suspension

78.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

58.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

56.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

50.9%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

35.7%

↓ 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	40.6% (28 yrs)	64.1% (40 yrs)	+23.5%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	40.1% (28 yrs)	57.8% (40 yrs)	+17.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Unclassified cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 1,168 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.