MOT fail rates by first-use year
2003 Volkswagen Beetle MOT fail rate and common faults
How Volkswagen Beetle cars first used in 2003 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 11,713 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 22 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 22 years old, Volkswagen Beetle cars first used in 2003 failed 49.5% of MOTs (2,084 tests), 8.5 points above the 41.0% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 19 to 22 years old, the fail rate moved from 52.5% to 49.5%.
- Volkswagen Beetle cars first used a year earlier, in 2002, failed 51.3% at the same age of 22 years (1,232 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Volkswagen Beetle at 22 years, is engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault, at 6.7 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.9).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 19 years | 52.5% | 3,848 | 43.2% | +9.3 pts |
| 2023 | 20 years | 50.2% | 3,218 | 42.8% | +7.5 pts |
| 2024 | 21 years | 52.3% | 2,563 | 42.1% | +10.3 pts |
| 2025 | 22 years | 49.5% | 2,084 | 41.0% | +8.5 pts |
Most common faults at 22 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Beetle MOTs at 22 years: cars first used 2000 to 2003, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,918). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 7.2 | 3.2 |
| Brake light not working Wear | 6.8 | 3.7 |
| Engine warning lamp at the petrol emissions check: not working or showing a fault | 6.7 | 1.9 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 5.9 | 3.5 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 4.7 | 3.5 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 4.5 | 1.7 |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | 4.2 | 1.9 |
| Driveshaft CV boot split | 4.1 | 2.9 |
| Coil spring broken | 4.1 | 2.1 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,918). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 16.7 | 10.1 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 15.3 | 15.9 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 14.9 | 8.0 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 14.6 | 13.7 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 14.3 | 15.1 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 13.5 | 10.4 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 11.2 | 6.7 |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear | 8.2 | 6.8 |
| Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) | 8.0 | 3.6 |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | 6.7 | 5.6 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,918). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 22 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Beetle MOTs at 22 years: cars first used 2000 to 2003, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,918). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 91.8% | 51.4% | 5,434 | 40.6% | 100,198 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 22 years
These figures cover all Volkswagen Beetle MOTs at 22 years: cars first used 2000 to 2003, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,918). At 22 years, Volkswagen Beetle cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (55.8%, n=1,299) than those at 60,000 to 90,000 miles (49.4%, n=1,407). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 49.4% | 1,407 | 39.7% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 53.4% | 1,898 | 43.4% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 55.8% | 1,299 | 45.0% |
Car tax rules for a 2003 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Many petrol cars first registered from 2001 to 2005 already meet Euro 4, but not all of them. For a 2003 petrol car the Euro standard of that car decides.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2003 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Volkswagen Beetle
Other Volkswagen models first used in 2003
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf (2003) | 22 years in 2025 | 42.6% | 13,842 | 41.0% |
| Volkswagen Polo (2003) | 22 years in 2025 | 51.5% | 8,629 | 41.0% |
| Volkswagen Passat (2003) | 22 years in 2025 | 40.3% | 2,111 | 41.0% |
More on the Volkswagen Beetle
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2003 Volkswagen Beetle cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.