Diesel Volkswagen Beetle: MOT pass rate
66.1% of diesel Volkswagen Beetles pass the MOT first time, measured across 10,788 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 87,744.
Diesel against the other Volkswagen Beetle versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 62.9% | 33,409 |
| Diesel | 66.1% | 10,788 |
| All Volkswagen Beetle | 63.7% | 44,215 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.
On the Volkswagen Beetle specifically, diesel is the strongest at 66.1%, and this diesel version sits 2.4 points above the 63.7% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
The diesel Volkswagen Beetle is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel Volkswagen Beetle had covered 87,744 miles at test, against 81,086 for the petrol. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volkswagen Beetle page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Volkswagen Beetle fuel types
- Petrol Volkswagen Beetle - 62.9%