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Volkswagen Beetle, Buying guide, MOT record, UK numbers and recalls

42,612 Volkswagen Beetles are licensed in the UK. In 2025 they passed 59.1% of initial MOT tests, 13.2 points below the 72.3% UK average.

Looking at a specific Beetle? Check its finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history. £15, no account needed.

Volkswagen Beetle at the MOT

59.1% of 40,527 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the Beetle 499th of 575 models. Volkswagen Beetles aged 6 to 10 years passed 70.5% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 11 years and over that fell to 55.4%.

First-time pass rate, 2025

Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.

  • Volkswagen Beetle59.1%
  • All Volkswagen modelsThe Beetle is 14 pts behind73.1%
  • All cars72.3%

Pass rate by age at test

Volkswagen Beetle tests in 2025.

  • 6 to 10 years9,920 tests70.5%
  • 11 years and over30,600 tests55.4%

Where Beetles fail

Share of all failure items recorded on Volkswagen Beetle tests in 2025.

  • Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment26.1%
  • Suspension21.3%
  • Brakes12.1%
  • Noise, emissions and leaks10.4%
  • Body, chassis, structure8.3%

The items testers recorded most often were pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn (5.9%), component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (4.4%) and coil spring fractured or broken (4.2%).

The MOT page lists every common Beetle MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.

Full Volkswagen Beetle MOT record

What to look at on a viewing

The Beetle's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.

  1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

    Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.26.1% of Beetle failure items

  2. Suspension

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for leaking shock absorbers and split rubber gaiters.21.3% of Beetle failure items

  3. Brakes

    Make sure the pedal feels firm, the car stops in a straight line, the handbrake holds on a slope and no brake warning light is showing.12.1% of Beetle failure items

Volkswagen Beetles in the UK

42,612 were licensed at the end of June 2026. The number licensed has fallen 45% since the end of 2014.

Change since 2014
−45%from 77,852 licensed
Typical year of first use
2009half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2009 or earlier
First registered in 2025
204against 3,583 in 2015
Declared off the road
17,52929% of those registered, under SORN

Licensed Volkswagen Beetles since 2014

Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.

Show the figures
DateLicensed
End of 201477,852
End of 201578,306
End of 201677,655
End of 201774,827
End of 201872,346
End of 201967,571
End of 202063,147
End of 202158,658
End of 202255,131
End of 202351,148
End of 202447,042
End of 202543,714
End of June 202642,612

How old they are

Licensed Volkswagen Beetles by year of first use.

  • Licensed at the end of 2025
  • First registered that year

A further 5,367 were first used before 1999.

Show the figures
First usedLicensed, end 2025First registered that year
20188941,083
20171,5051,690
20162,2562,514
20153,2053,583
20143,587
20134,324
20122,129
2011583
20101,893
20091,511
20081,928
20072,107
20062,096
20052,042
20042,221
20031,631
2002751
2001622
2000385
199920

3,205 Beetles first used in 2015 were still licensed at the end of 2025, roughly 89% of the 3,583 first registered that year.

Beetle engines and fuel

1.6 litre engines made up 30% of Volkswagen Beetle MOT tests in 2025, followed by 2.0 litre at 26%. Petrol accounts for 77% of licensed Beetles and diesel for 23%.

Engine size at MOT, 2025

Share of 40,508 initial MOT tests in 2025.

  • 1.6 litre30.3%
  • 2.0 litre26.2%
  • 1.2 litre16.7%
  • 1.4 litre16.1%
  • 1.9 litre7.2%

Fuel type, licensed Beetles

DfT licensing statistics, June 2026.

FuelLicensedShare
Petrol32,65377%
Diesel9,94023%
Battery electric9<0.1%
Gas10<0.1%

Volkswagen Beetle recalls

9 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Volkswagen Beetle. The 8 most recent are below. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every Beetle is affected.

  1. Mar 2026 R/2026/104

    USA Imported vehicle Recall Driver side airbag module replacement

    Beetles built Apr 2012 to Jun 2013 · 4 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    USA Recall for Imported vehicles NITSA 20V785. Volkswagen has detected that on some USA Imported Beetle models that the driver front airbag inflator can explode due to propellant degradation that occurs after exposure to high absolute humidity high temperatures and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion in these circumstances can result in injury to the driver or other occupants due to the ejection of metal fragments during the airbag explosion.
    Remedy
    For safety reasons the driver airbag unit must be replaced. The work required will take approximately 1.5 hours and will of course be performed free of charge.

  2. Aug 2025 R/2025/357

    Takata front drivers or passenger airbag replacement

    Beetles built Apr 2012 to Apr 2015 · 279 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Urgent Safety Warning - Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Our information shows your vehicle was originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Issue: The front airbag in your VW vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
    Remedy
    The front airbag must be replaced. Immediate Action Required: Stop driving your vehicle immediately. Contact the Takata Stop Drive helpline at 0113 526 9646 (MONDAY to FRIDAY 9:00AM to 5:00PM to arrange your recall service.

  3. Jun 2023 R/2023/178

    Takata Front airbag

    Beetles built May 2011 to Sep 2018 · 287,441 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    The function of the driver airbag inflators can degrade due to air and moisture ingress.
    Remedy
    Replace airbag

  4. Jun 2018 R/2018/150

    Incorrectly coated brake pistons

    Beetles built Apr 2018 to May 2018 · 108 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    Rear caliper pistons incorrectly coated.
    Remedy
    Replace rear calipers.

  5. Mar 2018 R/2018/062

    Starter motor may malfunction and overheat

    Beetles built Mar 2011 to Nov 2011 · 16,625 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    On vehicles with diesel engines and stop/start system the starter motor may be permanently activated because the return spring in the solenoid switch is bent or broken. If the permanent current supply to the starter motor is not noticed overheating of the component with local scorching damage and a vehicle fire is possible.
    Remedy
    Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the solenoid switch.

  6. Jun 2015 R/2015/002

    Directional control may be lost

    Beetles built Oct 2011 to Aug 2013 · 5,286 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    On vehicles with torsion beam rear axle the trailing arm of the rear axle can be deformed in a rear impact of the vehicle or when reversing too quickly over a relatively high obstacle (such as very high kerbs). If this deformation or pre-damage is not recognised a trailing arm of the rear axle can suddenly break later because of the related weakening of the rear axle.
    Remedy
    On vehicles which have been involved in a rear impact or reversed at speed over a high obstacle. The trailing arm of the torsion beam rear axle is checked for accident damage and replaced if necessary. In other instances a brace plate will be fitted to the trailing arms.

  7. Apr 2015 R/2015/044

    Fuel may leak resulting in possible fire

    Beetles built Apr 2014 to Aug 2014 · 49 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    It is possible that fuel can leak from a fuel delivery rail due to insufficient soldering during production.
    Remedy
    On affected vehicles replace fuel rail.

  8. Mar 2005 R/2004/211

    Bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break

    Beetles built Mar 2004 to Aug 2004 · 49,701 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    It is advised that on some vehicles fitted with a 3 and 4 cylinder pump injector engine the bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break due to a bolt production fault. As a result the pump housing will not be tight and a diesel fuel leak may occur.
    Remedy
    Recalled vehicles will have the pump checked for being of a certain manufacture. If found to be within the affected range the pump housing cover bolts will be replaced.
How to check a specific Beetle for recalls

Other Volkswagen models

The most-tested Volkswagen models in 2025, against the Beetle's 59.1% MOT pass rate.

All 31 Volkswagen models

Volkswagen Beetle FAQs

How many Volkswagen Beetles are there in the UK?

42,612 Volkswagen Beetles were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 17,529 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.

Is the Volkswagen Beetle reliable?

MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is a 59.1% first-time pass rate for the Volkswagen Beetle across 40,527 tests in 2025, below the 72.3% average for all cars.

Has the Volkswagen Beetle had any recalls?

9 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Volkswagen Beetle. The most recent was published in March 2026. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.

What should I check before buying a used Volkswagen Beetle?

On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, suspension and brakes. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.

How do I check a Volkswagen Beetle's history?

Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.

Already found a Beetle?

Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.

Across the 1,548 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the Volkswagen history check. To confirm a car's identity, see the Volkswagen VIN check.

  • Outstanding finance
  • Write-off records
  • Stolen markers
  • Mileage history
  • Previous keepers

MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Licensed, SORN, fuel and registration figures are from the Department for Transport vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120, VEH0124, VEH0160). Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to October 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.