MOT fail rates by first-use year

1999 Volkswagen Polo MOT fail rate and common faults

How Volkswagen Polo cars first used in 1999 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2023, against all cars of the same age. From 2,739 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026

At 24 years, tested in 2023

MOT fail rate at age 24 (n=1,202)39.0%

All cars at 24 years (n=428,815)37.8%

Difference+1.2 pts

MOT tests of 1999 cars, 2022 to 20232,739

What stands out

In 2023, at 24 years old, Volkswagen Polo cars first used in 1999 failed 39.0% of MOTs (1,202 tests), 1.2 points above the 37.8% for all cars that age.
From 2022 to 2023, as these cars went from 23 to 24 years old, the fail rate moved from 37.5% to 39.0%.
The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Volkswagen Polo at 24 years, is exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases, at 4.3 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Volkswagen Polo cars first used in 1999: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test year	Age	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars	Difference
2022	23 years	37.5%	1,537	39.6%	−2.2 pts
2023	24 years	39.0%	1,202	37.8%	+1.2 pts

Most common faults at 24 years

These figures cover all Volkswagen Polo MOTs at 24 years: cars first used 1998 to 2001, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=7,722). 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	4.6	2.2
Side/position light not working Wear	4.6	3.8
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases	4.3	2.2
Wipers not clearing screen Wear	4.2	3.3
Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits	4.0	2.2
Brake light not working Wear	3.9	2.9
Driveshaft CV boot split	3.7	2.4
Anti-lock braking system: warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	2.9	1.1
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear	2.8	1.6
Suspension arm bush worn	2.4	1.3

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=7,722). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

Advisory	Per 100 MOTs	All cars
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive	23.9	15.1
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear	16.3	11.2
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material	12.1	14.7
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear	11.9	9.8
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	11.6	9.2
Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases	11.4	5.4
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement	10.1	5.4
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear	9.7	6.1
Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened	6.7	2.7
Coil spring: corroded	6.2	7.1

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=7,722). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 24 years

These figures cover all Volkswagen Polo MOTs at 24 years: cars first used 1998 to 2001, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=7,722). 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	93.8%	43.2%	7,243	37.0%	76,909 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 24 years

These figures cover all Volkswagen Polo MOTs at 24 years: cars first used 1998 to 2001, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=7,722). At 24 years, Volkswagen Polo cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed more often (47.6%, n=1,745) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (36.5%, n=1,790). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles	36.5%	1,790	31.2%
60,000 to 90,000 miles	45.1%	2,527	36.8%
90,000 to 120,000 miles	47.6%	1,745	39.9%

Car tax rules for a 1999 car

Cars first registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed by engine size: one annual rate for engines up to 1,549cc and a higher rate above that.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

Petrol cars first registered before 2001 usually do not meet Euro 4, so they usually pay the ULEZ daily charge.
Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 1999 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 Polo

2000 Volkswagen Polo

Other Volkswagen models first used in 1999

Model	Age at test	MOT fail rate	Tests (n)	All cars
Volkswagen Golf (1999)	25 years in 2024	43.5%	2,697	36.3%

More on the Volkswagen Polo

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 1999 Volkswagen Polo 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.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

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.