88.0%passed first time

Share of initial MOT tests passed with no repairs. Repairs made at the test centre count as a fail. 95% range 87.7% to 88.4% (±0.4 points).

2021 Volkswagen Polo88.0%
All vehicles first used in 202187.2%

That is 0.8 points above the average for all vehicles first used in 2021 (87.2%). These cars were about 4 years old at the test.

Failure areas compared with all 2021 vehicles

Compared with all vehicles first used in 2021, failures are more common in windscreen, wipers, mirrors (1.5×), and less common in tyres (0.7×) and lights and electrics (0.8×). Other differences are within the margin of error.

Failed tests with a fault in each area, per 100 tests. The right-hand column shows how many times as often as all vehicles first used in 2021.

Windscreen, wipers, mirrors4.9 in 100 tests1.5× compared with 3.3 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2021
Tyres3.5 in 100 tests0.7× compared with 4.8 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2021
Lights and electrics2.1 in 100 tests0.8× compared with 2.6 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2021
Brakes1.6 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
Seat belts and airbags0.6 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
Suspension0.5 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
Noise, emissions, leaks0.3 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021
Steering0.2 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2021

All vehicles first used in 2021: the 221 models in our data, 1,754,969 tests (95.9% of all 1,830,830 tests on vehicles first used in 2021). Areas with fewer than 50 failures in a model aren't published, so an area is only compared when that leaves the all-vehicles figure at most 10% short; otherwise it shows –.

Typical mileage at test26,700

Median odometer reading at the 2025 MOT test, in miles. Half had more and half had less.

After an MOT advisory

2021 Volkswagen Polo cars that passed their 2024 MOT first time with an advisory, and what their next MOT found, against similar cars that passed with nothing noted in that area. Only cars first used in 2021.

Tyres

Of 2021 Volkswagen Polo cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a tyre advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 4.6% failed on tyres, against 3.3% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 4,094 and 16,421 cars.

With a tyre advisory4.6%
Similar cars, nothing noted3.3%

Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 13.8% of those with a tyre advisory and 11.2% of the others.

Brakes

Of 2021 Volkswagen Polo cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a brake advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 4.6% failed on brakes, against 1.7% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 1,134 and 19,406 cars.

With a brake advisory4.6%
Similar cars, nothing noted1.7%

Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 16.5% of those with a brake advisory and 11.4% of the others.

Not enough 2021 Volkswagen Polo cars with a suspension advisory to show a figure for this year alone.

Similar cars are the same model, first-use year and mileage band. Areas are the DVSA's top-level groups, so the later fail may not be the fault that was advised. These figures describe what happened to these cars. They don't show what a repair would have changed.

Volkswagen Polo, all first-use years together How we worked this out All models compared, with the data

What MOT data can't tell you about any 2021 Volkswagen Polo

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Volkswagen Polo years

Volkswagen Polo: every year, common faults and what to check

Other cars first used in 2021

Check a 2021 Polo you're looking at

2021 Volkswagen Polo: MOT pass rate and common faults

Check a specific Polo