MOT performance
2021 Volkswagen Polo: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 30,750 MOT tests on 2021-registered Volkswagen Polos in 2023–2024 (on average 2.2 years old at test, median 20,118 miles), 88.8% passed first time, 21.7 points higher than the Volkswagen Polo overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 2021 Volkswagen Polos failed about as often as comparable cars.
30,750 MOT tests on 28,825 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 88.8% | ±0.4 pts (95%), n = 30,750 |
| All Volkswagen Polos | 67.0% | n = 1,255,982 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.04× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 2.4% | n = 30,750 |
| Average age at test | 2.2 years | n = 30,750 |
Where 2021 Volkswagen Polos fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's view of the road | 5.0% | +93% |
| Tyres | 3.5% | -19% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.1% | -8% |
| Brakes | 1.0% | -36% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.8% | +136% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.2% | -36% |
| Suspension | 0.2% | -68% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.1% | -19% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.1% | -38% |
| Road wheels | 0.1% | -6% |
| Steering | 0.1% | +18% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 3.77% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.59% |
| Headlamp aim: too low | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 0.94% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 0.74% |
| Washers: not working | Driver's view of the road | 0.71% |
Check a specific 2021 Volkswagen Polo
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.