Car statistics by year
1987 Citroën 2CV
Citroën 2CV cars first registered in 1987: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 1987, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 71.9% All 1987 cars 78.1%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 58,900 miles; all 1987 cars 78,200
- Left at the end of 2025 1,287 104.4% of the 1,233 at the end of 2014
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 5.7% All 1987 cars 3.7%
- Tests with an advisory 44.0% All 1987 cars 37.4%
- MOT tests in 2025 580 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 1987 Citroën 2CVs do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 38 years old, 71.9% of 1987 Citroën 2CV MOT tests were passed first time, against 78.1% for all cars first registered in 1987. 1987 Citroën 2CVs did worse than average for their age, by 6.2 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 69.8% of the time (all 1987 cars 76.4%).
Most common MOT failures on the 1987 Citroën 2CV
Non catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content excessive was the most common single reason a 1987 Citroën 2CV failed, on 24.5% of about 200 failed tests. By area of the car, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment failed most often (58.9% of failed tests; all 1987 cars 51.5%). 5.7% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 3.7% for all cars first registered in 1987. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common reasons for failure
Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Non catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 24.5% |
| Rear fog lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.8% |
| Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 14.1% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.7% |
| Individual direction indicators: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.4% |
| Seat belts: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 9.2% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 8.6% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.6% |
| Side repeaters: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.0% |
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 7.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Citroën 2CV vs all 1987 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 58.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 29.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 23.9% |
| Suspension | 21.5% |
| Brakes | 20.2% |
| Visibility | 17.8% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 11.0% |
| Steering | 5.5% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 1987 Citroën 2CV
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 44.0% of 1987 Citroën 2CV tests had at least one (all 1987 cars 37.4%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.
Most common advisories
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 13.6% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 5.2% |
| Wheel bearings: slightly noisy Suspension | 4.7% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 4.1% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 4.1% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has slight play Steering | 4.1% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 4.1% |
| Axles: swivel pin or bush slightly worn Suspension | 4.0% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 3.6% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 3.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 1987 Citroën 2CV?
Half of the 1987 Citroën 2CVs tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 58,900 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 26,800 and a quarter more than 77,800. For all cars first registered in 1987, the middle figure was 78,200 miles, so 1987 Citroën 2CVs have been driven 24.7% less far than average.
Mileage at the 2025 MOT
Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.
| 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 Citroën 2CV | 8,700 | 26,800 | 58,900 | 77,800 | 90,000 | 556 |
| All 1987 cars | 21,900 | 47,700 | 78,200 | 111,900 | 147,800 | 6,116 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 1987 Citroën 2CVs are left?
At the end of 2014, 1,233 1987 Citroën 2CVs were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 1,287 were: 438 licensed and 849 declared off the road (SORN). That is 104.4% still on the record, against 95.5% for all cars first registered in 1987.
Share still on the record since 2014
Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.
| Year end | 1987 Citroën 2CV | All 1987 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2015 | 99.8% | 99.5% |
| 2016 | 101.0% | 98.7% |
| 2017 | 103.6% | 99.4% |
| 2018 | 102.8% | 98.7% |
| 2019 | 103.8% | 98.1% |
| 2020 | 103.8% | 98.0% |
| 2021 | 103.9% | 97.7% |
| 2022 | 104.8% | 97.4% |
| 2023 | 103.4% | 96.9% |
| 2024 | 103.8% | 95.3% |
| 2025 | 104.4% | 95.5% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 580 MOT tests of 1987 Citroën 2CV cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 1,287 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Citroën 2CV cars first registered in 1987; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 1987.
- Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
- Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
- Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
- Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
- DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.