Car statistics by year
2021 Volkswagen Up
Volkswagen Up 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 90.5% All 2021 cars 88.4%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 18,700 miles; all 2021 cars 30,700
- Left at the end of 2025 4,317 96.7% of the 4,466 at the end of 2021
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 4.1% All 2021 cars 3.8%
- Tests with an advisory 22.6% All 2021 cars 33.1%
- MOT tests in 2025 3,065 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 2021 Volkswagen Ups do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 4 years old, 90.5% of 2021 Volkswagen Up MOT tests were passed first time, against 88.4% for all cars first registered in 2021. 2021 Volkswagen Ups did better than average for their age, by 2.1 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 90.0% of the time (all 2021 cars 88.7%).
MOT pass rate by year of first registration: Volkswagen Up 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 Up bar with the all-cars bar beside it.
| First registered | Volkswagen Up | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| ’12 | 73.9% | 63.6% |
| ’13 | 76.2% | 66.0% |
| ’14 | 77.4% | 69.1% |
| ’15 | 77.5% | 72.6% |
| ’16 | 76.3% | 75.6% |
| ’17 | 81.4% | 79.1% |
| ’18 | 84.8% | 81.8% |
| ’19 | 88.4% | 84.4% |
| ’20 | 90.5% | 86.9% |
| ’21 | 90.5% | 88.4% |
| ’22 | 90.3% | 89.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT failures on the 2021 Volkswagen Up
Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure was the most common single reason a 2021 Volkswagen Up failed, on 25.0% of about 300 failed tests. By area of the car, tyres failed most often (50.3% of failed tests; all 2021 cars 41.9%). 4.1% 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 |
|---|---|
| Tyres: bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres | 25.0% |
| Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.6% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 8.6% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 7.5% |
| Rear fog lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.2% |
| Tyres: lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure Tyres | 5.1% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 4.5% |
| Headlamp aim: too high Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.5% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 4.1% |
| Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn Brakes | 3.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Volkswagen Up vs all 2021 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres | 50.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 29.1% |
| Visibility | 12.7% |
| Brakes | 10.3% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.5% |
| Suspension | 4.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.4% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 1.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 2021 Volkswagen Up
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 22.6% of 2021 Volkswagen Up 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 |
|---|---|
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 8.3% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 5.4% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 3.1% |
| Nail in tyre Non-component advisories | 2.2% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 2.0% |
| Tyres: cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 2.0% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 1.1% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged Tyres | 1.0% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 1.0% |
| Road wheels: slightly distorted Road wheels | 0.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 2021 Volkswagen Up?
Half of the 2021 Volkswagen Ups tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 18,700 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 11,800 and a quarter more than 27,300. For all cars first registered in 2021, the middle figure was 30,700 miles, so 2021 Volkswagen Ups have been driven 39.1% 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 Up | 7,100 | 11,800 | 18,700 | 27,300 | 37,200 | 2,988 |
| 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 Ups are left?
At the end of 2021, 4,466 2021 Volkswagen Ups were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom. By the end of 2025, 4,317 were: 4,288 licensed and 29 declared off the road (SORN). That is 96.7% 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 Up | All 2021 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2022 | 98.3% | 98.4% |
| 2023 | 96.8% | 97.6% |
| 2024 | 94.3% | 94.7% |
| 2025 | 96.7% | 96.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Recalls that may affect cars built around 2021
None of the Volkswagen Up’s 8 recalls in DVSA’s records has build dates that include 2021.
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.
Every Volkswagen Up 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 Up
11 years of the Volkswagen Up, 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 (73.9% passed first time) and the 2016 cars worst (76.3%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | – | 13,615 | 73.9% |
| 2013 | – | 19,821 | 76.2% |
| 2014 | 22,068 | 21,253 | 77.4% |
| 2015 | 16,623 | 16,123 | 77.5% |
| 2016 | 12,928 | 12,740 | 76.3% |
| 2017 | 13,284 | 13,108 | 81.4% |
| 2018 | 13,049 | 12,811 | 84.8% |
| 2019 | 8,304 | 8,212 | 88.4% |
| 2020 | 3,515 | 3,451 | 90.5% |
| 2021 | 4,466 | 4,317 | 90.5% |
| 2022 | 3,346 | 3,257 | 90.3% |
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 | 3,065 MOT tests of 2021 Volkswagen Up cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 4,317 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Volkswagen Up 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.