Volkswagen Polo Life Tsi
From 1,401 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Polo Life Tsis fare better: 2022 models pass at 98.1% vs 92.1% for 2021.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 18 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 18 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 7 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 6 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 6 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 5 |
| seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | 5 |
| a tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. this includes any lifting of the tread rubber | 4 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 2 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1 |
| a reversing lamp inoperative | 1 |
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 98.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2021 | 92.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
Typical mileage
Half of all Polo Life Tsis tested had between 13,116 and 24,555 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 17,543 median miles, the Polo Life Tsi has 0.04 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volkswagen models
| Volkswagen Golf | 79.1% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Transporter | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 84.6% |
| Volkswagen Passat | 76.9% |
Common questions
What is the Volkswagen Polo Life Tsi MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Polo Life Tsi has a 93% MOT pass rate based on 1,401 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Polo Life Tsi?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Polo Life Tsi is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 18 failures. Other common issues include a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Polo Life Tsi at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Polo Life Tsi is 17,543 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 13,116 and 24,555 miles.
Buying a used Polo Life Tsi?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.