Volkswagen Polo MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a Volkswagen Polo in Great Britain in 2025 — 632,066 tests. Figures cover every Polo first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the Polo ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
67.4%
4.9 points below the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
632,066
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
6.9%
of Polo first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
63,750
middle half: 46,250–83,750 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many Volkswagen Polo cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 737,095 Volkswagen Polo cars that were taxed or on SORN: 685,298 taxed and 51,797 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 Polo vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
685,298
93.0% of the 737,095 Polo cars taxed or on SORN; 205 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
51,797
declared off the road by their keepers — 7.0% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed Polo cars peaked at 685,946 at the end of 2024 and has since fallen by 648 (0.1%) to 685,298 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 19,941 at the end of 2014 to 51,797 at the end of 2025, up 159.8%. 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 Polo cars, year by year

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

0200k400k600k800k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed Polo cars, year 2014: 608kTaxed Polo cars, year 2015: 629kTaxed Polo cars, year 2016: 654kTaxed Polo cars, year 2017: 666kTaxed Polo cars, year 2018: 677kTaxed Polo cars, year 2019: 682kTaxed Polo cars, year 2020: 676kTaxed Polo cars, year 2021: 680kTaxed Polo cars, year 2022: 681kTaxed Polo cars, year 2023: 682kTaxed Polo cars, year 2024: 686kTaxed Polo cars, year 2025: 685k685k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed Polo cars
2014608,179
2015629,438
2016654,363
2017666,052
2018677,172
2019681,654
2020676,350
2021679,675
2022680,737
2023681,603
2024685,946
2025685,298

Polo 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.

020k40k60k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Polo cars on SORN, year 2014: 20kPolo cars on SORN, year 2015: 27kPolo cars on SORN, year 2016: 32kPolo cars on SORN, year 2017: 35kPolo cars on SORN, year 2018: 37kPolo cars on SORN, year 2019: 39kPolo cars on SORN, year 2020: 43kPolo cars on SORN, year 2021: 43kPolo cars on SORN, year 2022: 43kPolo cars on SORN, year 2023: 46kPolo cars on SORN, year 2024: 49kPolo cars on SORN, year 2025: 52k52k
View this chart as a table
YearPolo cars on SORN
201419,941
201526,649
201631,958
201735,177
201836,555
201939,107
202042,784
202142,978
202243,270
202346,022
202448,644
202551,797

Which model years survive

Taxed Polo cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 685,298 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. 5 taxed Polo cars have no recorded year of manufacture and are not in the table, so the rows add up to 685,293. 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 Polo cars
202523,9213.5%
202428,2694.1%
202324,1303.5%
202222,3073.3%
202129,5074.3%
202025,9493.8%
201935,7535.2%
201843,0606.3%
201745,2326.6%
201651,3037.5%
201551,2147.5%
201443,9856.4%
201337,5265.5%
201236,0045.3%
201136,6695.4%
201034,0865.0%
200920,7223.0%
200821,6083.2%
200719,0912.8%
200615,3962.2%
200511,4361.7%
20049,4771.4%
20037,3981.1%
All other build years (28 years, each under 1%)11,2501.6%

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 POLO 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 Polo ages

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

Volkswagen PoloAll cars
40%50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 3: 91.7%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 4: 88%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 5: 86.4%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 6: 78.7%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 7: 74.9%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 8: 76.4%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 9: 74.4%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 10: 71.8%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 11: 66.7%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 12: 62.5%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 13: 60.7%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 14: 57.6%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 15: 56.2%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 16: 53.2%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 17: 51.3%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 18: 51.5%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 19: 48.4%Volkswagen Polo, vehicle age 20: 47.2%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 Polo 47.2%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Polo testsPolo pass rateAll cars
322,74491.7%88.5%
429,92688.0%87.2%
526,27186.4%86.0%
636,62378.7%83.5%
743,72774.9%80.9%
845,84576.4%78.2%
951,73274.4%74.9%
1051,27671.8%71.9%
1144,22166.7%68.6%
1238,29762.5%65.8%
1337,00660.7%63.5%
1438,50657.6%61.2%
1535,99656.2%59.3%
1621,99053.2%58.3%
1723,12051.3%57.2%
1820,92451.5%57.4%
1917,35348.4%57.0%
2013,07947.2%57.6%

Better or worse than the average car?

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

Polo aheadPolo behind
-12-6+0+6+12Age 3: +3.2 points vs the average car3Age 4: +0.8 points vs the average carAge 5: +0.4 points vs the average car5Age 6: -4.8 points vs the average carAge 7: -6.0 points vs the average car7Age 8: -1.8 points vs the average carAge 9: -0.5 points vs the average car9Age 10: -0.1 points vs the average carAge 11: -1.9 points vs the average car11Age 12: -3.3 points vs the average carAge 13: -2.8 points vs the average car13Age 14: -3.6 points vs the average carAge 15: -3.1 points vs the average car15Age 16: -5.1 points vs the average carAge 17: -5.9 points vs the average car17Age 18: -5.9 points vs the average carAge 19: -8.6 points vs the average car19Age 20: -10.4 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3+3.2
4+0.8
5+0.4
6-4.8
7-6.0
8-1.8
9-0.5
10-0.1
11-1.9
12-3.3
13-2.8
14-3.6
15-3.1
16-5.1
17-5.9
18-5.9
19-8.6
20-10.4

The Polo fleet on the road, by age

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

015k30k45k60kAge 3: 22k3Age 4: 29kAge 5: 26k5Age 6: 36kAge 7: 43k7Age 8: 45kAge 9: 51k9Age 10: 51kAge 11: 44k11Age 12: 38kAge 13: 37k13Age 14: 38kAge 15: 35k15Age 16: 21kAge 17: 23k17Age 18: 20kAge 19: 17k19Age 20: 13k20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
322,744
429,926
526,271
636,623
743,727
845,845
951,732
1051,276
1144,221
1238,297
1337,006
1438,506
1535,996
1621,990
1723,120
1820,924
1917,353
2013,079

What a Polo fails on

Where the failure items land when a Polo 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 equipment23.6%
Suspension19.6%
Brakes16.4%
Tyres9.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks7.8%
Body, chassis, structure7.5%
Visibility7.1%
Steering5.6%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (97.3% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

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

Tyres: 32.5% of advisories32.5%Suspension: 25.2% of advisories25.2%Brakes: 22.5% of advisories22.5%Non-component advisories: 5.1% of advisoriesBody, chassis, structure: 4.8% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 3.5% of advisories
TyresSuspensionBrakesNon-component advisoriesBody, chassis, structureNoise, emissions and leaks
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Tyres32.5%
Suspension25.2%
Brakes22.5%
Non-component advisories5.1%
Body, chassis, structure4.8%
Noise, emissions and leaks3.5%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Polo?

First-time pass rate for the two most-tested Polo 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: 68.3% of 587,952 tests68.3%Petrol587,952 testsDiesel: 55.6% of 44,097 tests55.6%Diesel44,097 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol587,95268.3%
Diesel44,09755.6%

What mileage is normal for a Polo?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) Polo; 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 Polo (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 21,250 miles (middle half 13,750–28,750)Age 4: typical 26,250 miles (middle half 18,750–36,250)Age 5: typical 31,250 miles (middle half 21,250–43,750)Age 6: typical 38,750 miles (middle half 28,750–51,250)Age 7: typical 46,250 miles (middle half 33,750–58,750)Age 8: typical 51,250 miles (middle half 36,250–66,250)Age 9: typical 58,750 miles (middle half 41,250–76,250)Age 10: typical 63,750 miles (middle half 46,250–83,750)Age 11: typical 71,250 miles (middle half 51,250–91,250)Age 12: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 56,250–96,250)Age 13: typical 81,250 miles (middle half 58,750–103,750)Age 14: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 63,750–108,750)Age 15: typical 91,250 miles (middle half 66,250–113,750)Age 16: typical 88,750 miles (middle half 63,750–111,250)Age 17: typical 93,750 miles (middle half 68,750–118,750)Age 18: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 71,250–121,250)Age 19: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 73,750–121,250)Age 20: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 71,250–121,250)96k mi

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

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
313,75021,25028,750
418,75026,25036,250
521,25031,25043,750
628,75038,75051,250
733,75046,25058,750
836,25051,25066,250
941,25058,75076,250
1046,25063,75083,750
1151,25071,25091,250
1256,25076,25096,250
1358,75081,250103,750
1463,75086,250108,750
1566,25091,250113,750
1663,75088,750111,250
1768,75093,750118,750
1871,25096,250121,250
1973,75096,250121,250
2071,25096,250121,250

What fails at each age

The Polo'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.

TyresVisibilityBrakesLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentSuspensionSteeringNoise, emissions and leaksBody, chassis, structureEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
3-5 yrsTyres32.7%
3-5 yrsVisibility22.7%
3-5 yrsBrakes15.0%
3-5 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment7.8%
3-5 yrsSuspension5.9%
3-5 yrsEverything else15.9%
6-9 yrsSuspension19.5%
6-9 yrsBrakes19.2%
6-9 yrsSteering18.4%
6-9 yrsTyres16.4%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment8.3%
6-9 yrsEverything else18.2%
10-13 yrsSuspension24.6%
10-13 yrsBrakes22.0%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment17.8%
10-13 yrsTyres11.8%
10-13 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks7.6%
10-13 yrsEverything else16.2%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment22.8%
14+ yrsSuspension21.6%
14+ yrsBrakes16.1%
14+ yrsBody, chassis, structure10.9%
14+ yrsNoise, emissions and leaks9.4%
14+ yrsEverything else19.2%

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.