Car statistics by year
2021 Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen Polo cars first registered in 2021: 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 2021, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 88.0% All 2021 cars 88.4%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 26,700 miles; all 2021 cars 30,700
- Left at the end of 2025 29,589 98.0% of the 30,202 at the end of 2021
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 2.9% All 2021 cars 3.8%
- Tests with an advisory 33.1% All 2021 cars 33.1%
- MOT tests in 2025 29,926 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2021 Volkswagen Polos do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 4 years old, 88.0% of 2021 Volkswagen Polo MOT tests were passed first time, against 88.4% for all cars first registered in 2021. 2021 Volkswagen Polos did about as well as average for their age. A year earlier the same cars passed 88.7% of the time (all 2021 cars 88.7%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Volkswagen Polo 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 Polo bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | Volkswagen Polo | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’11 | 57.6% | 61.5% |
| ’12 | 60.7% | 63.6% |
| ’13 | 62.5% | 66.0% |
| ’14 | 66.7% | 69.1% |
| ’15 | 71.8% | 72.6% |
| ’16 | 74.4% | 75.6% |
| ’17 | 76.4% | 79.1% |
| ’18 | 74.9% | 81.8% |
| ’19 | 78.7% | 84.4% |
| ’20 | 86.4% | 86.9% |
| ’21 | 88.0% | 88.4% |
| ’22 | 91.6% | 89.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2021 Volkswagen Polo
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively was the most common single reason a 2021 Volkswagen Polo failed, on 31.1% of about 3,600 failed tests. By area of the car, visibility failed most often (41.3% of failed tests; all 2021 cars 26.1%). 2.9% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 3.8% for all cars first registered in 2021. 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 |
|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 31.1% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 11.5% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 8.0% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 7.7% |
| Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.8% |
| Washers: not working Visibility | 5.7% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 5.1% |
| Headlamp aim: too high Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.1% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 4.0% |
| Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres | 2.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Volkswagen Polo vs all 2021 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Visibility | 41.3% |
| Tyres | 29.5% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.5% |
| Brakes | 13.2% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 5.3% |
| Suspension | 3.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.5% |
| Steering | 1.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2021 Volkswagen Polo
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 33.1% of 2021 Volkswagen Polo tests had at least one (all 2021 cars 33.1%). 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 | 13.0% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 12.9% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 5.3% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 3.9% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 3.0% |
| Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 1.5% |
| Nail in tyre Non-component advisories | 1.5% |
| Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories | 1.0% |
| Items removed from driver's view prior to test Non-component advisories | 0.9% |
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 0.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2021 Volkswagen Polo?
Half of the 2021 Volkswagen Polos tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 26,700 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 18,500 and a quarter more than 36,600. For all cars first registered in 2021, the middle figure was 30,700 miles, so 2021 Volkswagen Polos have been driven 13.0% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Volkswagen Polo | 12,400 | 18,500 | 26,700 | 36,600 | 48,200 | 29,049 |
| All 2021 cars | 14,300 | 21,300 | 30,700 | 42,500 | 56,500 | 1,457,950 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 2021 Volkswagen Polos are left?
At the end of 2021, 30,202 2021 Volkswagen Polos were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 29,589 were: 29,480 licensed and 109 declared off the road (SORN). That is 98.0% still on the record, against 96.0% for all cars first registered in 2021.
Share still on the record since 2021
Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2021. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.
| Year end | 2021 Volkswagen Polo | All 2021 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2022 | 99.0% | 98.4% |
| 2023 | 97.2% | 97.6% |
| 2024 | 97.6% | 94.7% |
| 2025 | 98.0% | 96.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2021
3 of the Volkswagen Polo’s 24 recalls in DVSA’s records cover cars built during 2021. 1 has no build dates, so could apply to any year.
The 2021 on this page is the year of first registration, not the year the car was built. A car first registered early in 2021 may have been built in 2020, and recalls apply to particular build dates and VINs, so check the recalls either side too.
| Launched | Concern | Built | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2022 | The roof spoiler may not have been bonded to the rear lid with the specified process materials | 17 Aug 2021 to 15 Sept 2021 | 356 |
| 27 Dec 2021 | The sun roof frame may not have been bonded to the body roof | 17 Feb 2021 to 1 Sept 2021 | 35 |
| 19 Oct 2021 | A faultily installed net for the design breakage point for the discharge of the passenger airbag has been fitted | 19 Aug 2020 to 11 Jan 2021 | 6,889 |
Every Volkswagen Polo 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 Polo
24 years of the Volkswagen Polo, 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 2022 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (91.6% passed first time) and the 2003 cars worst (48.1%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | – | 2,629 | 60.2% |
| 2000 | – | 5,112 | 54.0% |
| 2001 | – | 6,181 | 55.1% |
| 2002 | – | 7,055 | 49.0% |
| 2003 | – | 10,681 | 48.1% |
| 2004 | – | 12,456 | 47.9% |
| 2005 | – | 14,316 | 47.2% |
| 2006 | – | 18,139 | 48.4% |
| 2007 | – | 21,318 | 51.5% |
| 2008 | – | 23,569 | 51.3% |
| 2009 | – | 22,026 | 53.2% |
| 2010 | – | 35,846 | 56.2% |
| 2011 | – | 37,698 | 57.6% |
| 2012 | – | 36,229 | 60.7% |
| 2013 | – | 37,814 | 62.5% |
| 2014 | 45,902 | 44,054 | 66.7% |
| 2015 | 53,513 | 51,439 | 71.8% |
| 2016 | 52,860 | 51,632 | 74.4% |
| 2017 | 45,894 | 45,532 | 76.4% |
| 2018 | 43,750 | 43,293 | 74.9% |
| 2019 | 35,969 | 35,916 | 78.7% |
| 2020 | 26,334 | 26,050 | 86.4% |
| 2021 | 30,202 | 29,589 | 88.0% |
| 2022 | 23,171 | 22,347 | 91.6% |
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 | 29,926 MOT tests of 2021 Volkswagen Polo cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 29,589 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Volkswagen Polo cars first registered in 2021; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 2021.
- 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.