2018 Volkswagen Up MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 84.8% of Volkswagen Ups first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 38,696 Up first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) and tyres.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Volkswagen Ups first used in 2018 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2018 Volkswagen Up MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Ups first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Up figure was 3.9 points higher.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2018 Up | All cars first used 2018 | Up first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90.8% | 87.6% | 12,949 |
| 2022 | 88.0% | 86.3% | 12,967 |
| 2023 | 86.7% | 84.2% | 12,925 |
| 2024 | 84.9% | 82.5% | 12,898 |
| 2025 | 84.8% | 80.9% | 12,873 |
Common 2018 Volkswagen Up MOT failures
Share of the 5,621 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 18.4% | 1,034 |
| Headlamp aim: too low | 9.0% | 505 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 8.6% | 484 |
| Rear fog lamp: not working | 7.0% | 392 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 6.2% | 347 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for an Up in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2018 Volkswagen Up before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Common 2018 Volkswagen Up MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Ups, as a share of all 38,696 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 16.3% | 6,310 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 8.3% | 3,215 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 6.2% | 2,382 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 4.4% | 1,699 |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread | 3.2% | 1,244 |
Questions about the 2018 Volkswagen Up MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Volkswagen Up?
In 2025, 84.8% of Ups first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2018 Up most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 27.9% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (26.8%) and tyres (25.9%). The single most common item was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” (18.4%).
How often does a 2018 Volkswagen Up fail its MOT?
In 2025, 15.2% of first tests on Ups first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 11.9% failed, and a further 3.4% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 5,621 of 38,696 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2018 Volkswagen Up MOT advisories?
“Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (on 16.3% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (8.3%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (6.2%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (4.4%) and “Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread” (3.2%).
Is a 2018 Volkswagen Up reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 90.8% in 2021 to 84.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2018
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2018 Up?
The numbers above cover every Up first used in 2018 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
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