MOT reliability data, sourced from DVSA
Volkswagen MOT pass rate & reliability
Volkswagen is the UK's best-selling car brand overall. Here's what DVSA's own 2025 MOT test data actually shows about how well VWs hold up, model by model.
MOT reliability data, sourced from DVSA
Volkswagen is the UK's best-selling car brand overall. Here's what DVSA's own 2025 MOT test data actually shows about how well VWs hold up, model by model.
72.9%
Volkswagen MOT pass rate
72.4%
UK national average
+0.5pt
vs. national average
#1
UK sales rank, H1 2026
Pass rate by popular model
The Golf and Polo together account for over 40% of all UK VW MOT tests.
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA's 2025 MOT test year data, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
What this means
At 72.9%, Volkswagen sits marginally above the UK national average, making it the best-performing brand among the highest-volume mainstream makes (ahead of Ford, Nissan, and Vauxhall specifically). That's a genuinely useful data point if you're choosing between mainstream brands rather than stretching to a premium marque.
The gap between models is worth knowing before you buy. The Polo trails the brand average by a meaningful margin at 65.4%, while the Tiguan and Up sit closer to 79%. If you're looking at a used Polo specifically, that's a reason to lean harder on the individual car's own MOT history rather than the Volkswagen badge alone.
Frequently asked questions
Volkswagen has a 72.9% MOT pass rate based on DVSA's 2025 test year data, marginally above the national average of 72.4%.
Volkswagen performs better than most mainstream, high-volume brands on MOT pass rate, though it isn't in the same tier as premium brands like Porsche, BMW, or Audi. It's a reasonable, above-average choice within the mainstream segment specifically.
Check any specific Volkswagen's MOT history, tax status, and advisories by registration number.
Check MOT historyComparing a Volkswagen against another make? Score them both out of 100.
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