Car statistics by year
2004 Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle cars first registered in 2004: 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 2004, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 48.4% All 2004 cars 57.9%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 103,300 miles; all 2004 cars 101,100
- Left at the end of 2025 3,517 43.0% of the 8,182 at the end of 2014
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 10.1% All 2004 cars 9.6%
- Tests with an advisory 72.2% All 2004 cars 70.0%
- MOT tests in 2025 2,773 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2004 Volkswagen Beetles do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 21 years old, 48.4% of 2004 Volkswagen Beetle MOT tests were passed first time, against 57.9% for all cars first registered in 2004. 2004 Volkswagen Beetles did worse than average for their age, by 9.5 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 47.9% of the time (all 2004 cars 56.5%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Volkswagen Beetle vs all cars
Each pair of bars is one year of first registration, tested in 2025. Older cars pass less often, so compare each Volkswagen Beetle bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | Volkswagen Beetle | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’00 | 48.8% | 63.1% |
| ’01 | 53.1% | 61.5% |
| ’02 | 51.7% | 59.7% |
| ’03 | 50.0% | 58.9% |
| ’04 | 48.4% | 57.9% |
| ’05 | 52.1% | 57.7% |
| ’06 | 48.8% | 56.9% |
| ’07 | 47.2% | 57.3% |
| ’08 | 49.0% | 57.0% |
| ’09 | 53.0% | 58.2% |
| ’10 | 53.6% | 59.3% |
| ’11 | 54.3% | 61.5% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction was the most common single reason a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle failed, on 14.8% of about 1,400 failed tests. By area of the car, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment failed most often (52.4% of failed tests; all 2004 cars 49.2%). 10.1% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 9.6% for all cars first registered in 2004. 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 |
|---|---|
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 14.8% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.7% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 13.5% |
| SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 11.0% |
| Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Suspension | 10.3% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.3% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.8% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 9.6% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 8.4% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Volkswagen Beetle vs all 2004 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 52.4% |
| Suspension | 33.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 27.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 26.8% |
| Brakes | 24.9% |
| Visibility | 17.9% |
| Steering | 17.1% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 14.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 72.2% of 2004 Volkswagen Beetle tests had at least one (all 2004 cars 70.0%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.
Most common advisories
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 18.8% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 16.6% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 14.9% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 14.1% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 14.0% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 12.7% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 10.8% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 6.5% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 6.2% |
| Flexible brake hoses: slightly deteriorated Brakes | 5.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle?
Half of the 2004 Volkswagen Beetles tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 103,300 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 79,600 and a quarter more than 126,800. For all cars first registered in 2004, the middle figure was 101,100 miles, so 2004 Volkswagen Beetles have been driven about as far as 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Volkswagen Beetle | 57,900 | 79,600 | 103,300 | 126,800 | 151,700 | 2,590 |
| All 2004 cars | 51,600 | 73,300 | 101,100 | 133,200 | 166,100 | 309,169 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2004 Volkswagen Beetles are left?
At the end of 2014, 8,182 2004 Volkswagen Beetles were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 3,517 were: 2,220 licensed and 1,297 declared off the road (SORN). That is 43.0% still on the record, against 25.3% for all cars first registered in 2004.
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 | 2004 Volkswagen Beetle | All 2004 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2015 | 98.2% | 94.1% |
| 2016 | 97.5% | 87.1% |
| 2017 | 95.2% | 77.1% |
| 2018 | 91.5% | 66.7% |
| 2019 | 86.1% | 57.2% |
| 2020 | 80.2% | 49.7% |
| 2021 | 72.3% | 42.3% |
| 2022 | 64.5% | 37.0% |
| 2023 | 56.7% | 32.8% |
| 2024 | 49.1% | 28.5% |
| 2025 | 43.0% | 25.3% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2004
1 of the Volkswagen Beetle’s 9 recalls in DVSA’s records covers cars built during 2004.
The 2004 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2004 may have been built in 2003, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.
| Launched | Concern | Built | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar 2005 | Bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break | 1 Mar 2004 to 31 Aug 2004 | 49,701 (all models) |
Every Volkswagen Beetle recall · Check a specific car on GOV.UK · How we match recalls
Recall details come from manufacturers through DVSA. “Vehicles” is the number the manufacturer reported; “all models” means the figure covers everything in the recall. A recall listed here may not apply to a particular car: only the manufacturer or GOV.UK can say for its VIN.
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated
Other years of the Volkswagen Beetle
19 years of the Volkswagen Beetle, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2012 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (65.4% passed first time) and the 2000 cars worst (48.8%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | – | 1,417 | 48.8% |
| 2001 | – | 1,687 | 53.1% |
| 2002 | – | 1,677 | 51.7% |
| 2003 | – | 2,853 | 50.0% |
| 2004 | – | 3,517 | 48.4% |
| 2005 | – | 3,032 | 52.1% |
| 2006 | – | 2,733 | 48.8% |
| 2007 | – | 2,611 | 47.2% |
| 2008 | – | 2,217 | 49.0% |
| 2009 | – | 1,702 | 53.0% |
| 2010 | – | 2,056 | 53.6% |
| 2011 | – | 638 | 54.3% |
| 2012 | – | 2,287 | 65.4% |
| 2013 | – | 4,499 | 65.6% |
| 2014 | 3,715 | 3,670 | 66.3% |
| 2015 | 3,357 | 3,258 | 68.0% |
| 2016 | 2,286 | 2,281 | 71.1% |
| 2017 | 1,506 | 1,526 | 72.2% |
| 2018 | 918 | 917 | 80.9% |
Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.
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 | 2,773 MOT tests of 2004 Volkswagen Beetle cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 3,517 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Volkswagen Beetle cars first registered in 2004; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2004.
- 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.