Volkswagen Beetle MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a Volkswagen Beetle in Great Britain in 2025 — 40,550 tests. Figures cover every Beetle first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the Beetle ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
59.1%
13.2 points below the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
40,550
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
7.4%
of Beetle first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
58,750
middle half: 43,750–78,750 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many Volkswagen Beetle cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 61,182 Volkswagen Beetle cars that were taxed or on SORN: 43,618 taxed and 17,564 on SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification — kept, but declared off the road by the keeper). The MOT figures above count tests; these count cars, across the whole United Kingdom, cars only. Volkswagen Beetle vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
43,618
71.3% of the 61,182 Beetle cars taxed or on SORN; 79 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
17,564
declared off the road by their keepers — 28.7% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed Beetle cars peaked at 78,196 at the end of 2015 and has since fallen by 34,578 (44.2%) to 43,618 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 9,366 at the end of 2014 to 17,564 at the end of 2025, up 87.5%. A car leaves the taxed count when it is scrapped, exported or declared off the road; the year-end counts do not say which.

Taxed Beetle cars, year by year

Cars of this model taxed and on the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025.

020k40k60k80k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed Beetle cars, year 2014: 78kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2015: 78kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2016: 78kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2017: 75kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2018: 72kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2019: 67kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2020: 63kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2021: 59kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2022: 55kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2023: 51kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2024: 47kTaxed Beetle cars, year 2025: 44k44k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed Beetle cars
201477,739
201578,196
201677,556
201774,729
201872,245
201967,456
202063,037
202158,544
202255,009
202351,030
202446,933
202543,618

Beetle cars on SORN, year by year

Cars of this model declared off the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025. Its own scale — SORN counts are a fraction of the taxed count.

05k10k15k20k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Beetle cars on SORN, year 2014: 9kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2015: 11kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2016: 12kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2017: 14kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2018: 15kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2019: 15kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2020: 16kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2021: 16kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2022: 16kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2023: 17kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2024: 17kBeetle cars on SORN, year 2025: 18k18k
View this chart as a table
YearBeetle cars on SORN
20149,366
201510,861
201612,336
201714,301
201814,575
201915,241
202015,929
202116,119
202216,093
202316,600
202416,912
202517,564

Which model years survive

Taxed Beetle cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 43,618 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. 3,685 taxed Beetle cars have no recorded year of manufacture and are not in the table, so the rows add up to 39,933. A build year's count depends on how many were sold that year as well as how many have lasted.

Year of manufacture Taxed, end of 2025Share of taxed Beetle cars
20188992.1%
20171,5153.5%
20162,2685.2%
20153,2227.4%
20143,6398.3%
20134,43710.2%
20122,2205.1%
20115881.3%
20101,9114.4%
20091,5213.5%
20081,9484.5%
20072,1464.9%
20062,1384.9%
20052,0784.8%
20042,2755.2%
20031,6523.8%
20027671.8%
20016231.4%
19727671.8%
All other build years (56 years, each under 1%)3,3197.6%

Population source: Department for Transport / DVLA vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026; counts of the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, United Kingdom, cars only, excluding cars recorded with no model name. SortedCars groups DVLA's model name BEETLE under this model. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, DVLA or the Department for Transport.

How the Beetle ages

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, Beetle vs all cars, 2025.

Volkswagen BeetleAll cars
40%50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 7: 80.9%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 8: 72.2%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 9: 71.1%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 10: 68%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 11: 66.3%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 12: 65.6%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 13: 65.5%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 14: 54.3%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 15: 53.6%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 16: 53%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 17: 49.1%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 18: 47.2%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 19: 48.7%Volkswagen Beetle, vehicle age 20: 52.1%All cars, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All cars, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All cars, vehicle age 5: 86%All cars, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All cars, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All cars, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All cars, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All cars, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All cars, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All cars, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All cars, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All cars, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All cars, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All cars, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All cars, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All cars, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All cars, vehicle age 19: 57%All cars, vehicle age 20: 57.6%All cars 57.6%Volkswagen Beetle 52.1%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Beetle testsBeetle pass rateAll cars
789480.9%80.9%
81,51472.2%78.2%
92,29071.1%74.9%
103,25968.0%71.9%
113,59566.3%68.6%
124,44465.6%65.8%
132,28265.5%63.5%
1465854.3%61.2%
152,02253.6%59.3%
161,67853.0%58.3%
172,11549.1%57.2%
182,52747.2%57.4%
192,49448.7%57.0%
202,49152.1%57.6%

Better or worse than the average car?

The Beetle's pass rate minus the all-cars pass rate at each age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: the Beetle beats the average car of that age. Below zero: it trails.

Beetle aheadBeetle behind
-12-6+0+6+12Age 7: +0.0 points vs the average car7Age 8: -6.0 points vs the average carAge 9: -3.8 points vs the average car9Age 10: -3.9 points vs the average carAge 11: -2.3 points vs the average car11Age 12: -0.2 points vs the average carAge 13: +2.0 points vs the average car13Age 14: -6.9 points vs the average carAge 15: -5.7 points vs the average car15Age 16: -5.3 points vs the average carAge 17: -8.1 points vs the average car17Age 18: -10.2 points vs the average carAge 19: -8.3 points vs the average car19Age 20: -5.5 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
7+0.0
8-6.0
9-3.8
10-3.9
11-2.3
12-0.2
13+2.0
14-6.9
15-5.7
16-5.3
17-8.1
18-10.2
19-8.3
20-5.5

The Beetle fleet on the road, by age

How many took a first MOT in 2025 at each age — the shape of the Beetle fleet still in use.

01k2k3k5kAge 7: 8947Age 8: 1kAge 9: 2k9Age 10: 3kAge 11: 3k11Age 12: 4kAge 13: 2k13Age 14: 658Age 15: 2k15Age 16: 1kAge 17: 2k17Age 18: 2kAge 19: 2k19Age 20: 2k20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
7894
81,514
92,290
103,259
113,595
124,444
132,282
14658
152,022
161,678
172,115
182,527
192,494
202,491

What a Beetle fails on

Where the failure items land when a Beetle fails or needs a fix at test, 2025. Use it as a pre-purchase checklist: these are the areas to look at first.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment26.1%
Suspension21.3%
Brakes12.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks10.4%
Body, chassis, structure8.3%
Tyres7.0%
Visibility6.3%
Steering5.1%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (96.6% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" for a Beetle, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Suspension: 27.7% of advisories27.7%Brakes: 25.4% of advisories25.4%Tyres: 24.7% of advisories24.7%Noise, emissions and leaks: 5.0% of advisoriesBody, chassis, structure: 5.0% of advisoriesNon-component advisories: 4.0% of advisories
SuspensionBrakesTyresNoise, emissions and leaksBody, chassis, structureNon-component advisories
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Suspension27.7%
Brakes25.4%
Tyres24.7%
Noise, emissions and leaks5.0%
Body, chassis, structure5.0%
Non-component advisories4.0%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Beetle?

First-time pass rate for the two most-tested Beetle fuel types, 2025, against the all-cars average. Fleet ages differ by fuel — newer fleets help the electrified bars.

50%60%70%80%90%100%all cars 72.3%Petrol: 57.9% of 30,310 tests57.9%Petrol30,310 testsDiesel: 62.6% of 10,226 tests62.6%Diesel10,226 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol30,31057.9%
Diesel10,22662.6%

What mileage is normal for a Beetle?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) Beetle; the shaded band holds the middle half. A car far outside the band, in either direction, is worth questions the recorded history can answer.

Typical Beetle (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k79111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 7: typical 38,750 miles (middle half 23,750–51,250)Age 8: typical 43,750 miles (middle half 31,250–61,250)Age 9: typical 53,750 miles (middle half 38,750–71,250)Age 10: typical 58,750 miles (middle half 43,750–78,750)Age 11: typical 66,250 miles (middle half 48,750–86,250)Age 12: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 56,250–96,250)Age 13: typical 78,750 miles (middle half 61,250–98,750)Age 14: typical 78,750 miles (middle half 61,250–96,250)Age 15: typical 81,250 miles (middle half 63,750–101,250)Age 16: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 68,750–108,750)Age 17: typical 93,750 miles (middle half 73,750–113,750)Age 18: typical 93,750 miles (middle half 76,250–116,250)Age 19: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 78,750–118,750)Age 20: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 76,250–121,250)98k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
723,75038,75051,250
831,25043,75061,250
938,75053,75071,250
1043,75058,75078,750
1148,75066,25086,250
1256,25076,25096,250
1361,25078,75098,750
1461,25078,75096,250
1563,75081,250101,250
1668,75088,750108,750
1773,75093,750113,750
1876,25093,750116,250
1978,75098,750118,750
2076,25098,750121,250

What fails at each age

The Beetle's failure mix by age band, 2025 — each band's top categories at their true share of that band's failure items; the pale remainder is everything else. How the mix shifts with age is the point of the chart.

SuspensionLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentTyresBrakesVisibilityBody, chassis, structureNoise, emissions and leaksEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
6-9 yrsSuspension37.5%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment17.6%
6-9 yrsTyres15.4%
6-9 yrsBrakes13.9%
6-9 yrsVisibility6.2%
6-9 yrsEverything else9.4%
10-13 yrsSuspension34.5%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.0%
10-13 yrsBrakes15.3%
10-13 yrsTyres13.1%
10-13 yrsBody, chassis, structure7.8%
10-13 yrsEverything else11.3%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment25.4%
14+ yrsSuspension19.1%
14+ yrsNoise, emissions and leaks12.2%
14+ yrsBrakes12.1%
14+ yrsBody, chassis, structure9.5%
14+ yrsEverything else21.7%

More vehicles we've checked

How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, and all trims and variants of a model are grouped under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. The taxed and SORN counts on this page are the one exception: they are not computed from MOT records but taken from the Department for Transport's vehicle licensing statistics (DfT/DVLA table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0), which count the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, UK-wide, cars only. They describe a model as a whole, grouped under SortedCars' model names, and say nothing about any one car. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.