Volkswagen Up
From 165,665 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Ups fare better: 2024 models pass at 92.8% vs 78.8% for 2012.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, caused 2,926 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.
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 2,926 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 2,695 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 2,160 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 2,097 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,877 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 1,433 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 1,080 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,069 |
| fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap | 1,065 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 984 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 44.8% of failures are serious: 44.8% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 0% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £81.
The warranty question
A new Up passes its MOT 93.5% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 80.5%, a 13 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 81.1%. With an average repair bill of £81 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Up that's past its third birthday.
Fuel type matters
Electric versions pass at 88.5% while Petrol versions pass at 82.6%, a 6 percentage point gap.
Volkswagen Up on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 889 newly registered in the past year with 349 leaving, a net gain of 540. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 129,047 | 1,442 | +252 | -0 | +281 |
| 2025 Q2 | 128,835 | 1,373 | +189 | -0 | +220 |
| 2025 Q1 | 128,648 | 1,340 | +243 | -276 | -33 |
| 2024 Q4 | 128,844 | 1,177 | +205 | -73 | +132 |
| 2024 Q3 | 128,891 | 998 | +219 | -305 | -86 |
| 2024 Q2 | 129,021 | 954 | +156 | -162 | -6 |
| 2024 Q1 | 129,063 | 918 | +162 | -103 | +59 |
| 2023 Q4 | 129,083 | 839 | +482 | -0 | +577 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move Up | Petrol | 51,709 | 42% |
| High Up | Petrol | 16,810 | 14% |
| Take Up | Petrol | 11,355 | 9% |
| Move Up Bluemotion Technology | Petrol | 5,896 | 5% |
| Up Gti | Petrol | 5,181 | 4% |
| Up By Beats | Petrol | 4,556 | 4% |
| Up | Petrol | 4,018 | 3% |
| Move Up Auto | Petrol | 3,774 | 3% |
| E-Up | Battery Electric | 3,063 | 2% |
| High Up Bluemotion Technology | Petrol | 2,701 | 2% |
| High Up Auto | Petrol | 2,492 | 2% |
| High Up Tsi | Petrol | 2,189 | 2% |
| Up Black Edition | Petrol | 2,084 | 2% |
| Groove Up | Petrol | 1,424 | 1% |
| Club Up | Petrol | 1,390 | 1% |
| Look Up | Petrol | 1,160 | <1% |
| Up Black | Petrol | 1,062 | <1% |
| Up White | Petrol | 1,014 | <1% |
| Up R-Line | Petrol | 972 | <1% |
| Move Up Tech Edition | Petrol | 945 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 92.8% | a suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing excessively worn |
| 2021 | 93.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2020 | 93.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 90.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
7 earlier years
| 2018 | 86.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2017 | 84.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2016 | 80.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 80.9% | emissions levels exceed default limits, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2014 | 81.4% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 81.1% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 78.8% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Ups tested had between 31,821 and 68,718 miles on the clock.
At 48,009 median miles, the Up has 0.036 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 Up MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Up has a 82.6% MOT pass rate based on 165,665 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Up?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Up is significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, which caused 2,926 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Volkswagen Ups are on UK roads?
There are 129,047 Volkswagen Ups currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,442 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Up at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Up is 48,009 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 31,821 and 68,718 miles.
Buying a used Up?
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.
With a 82.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £81 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.