Electric Volkswagen Golf: MOT pass rate

87.8% of electric Volkswagen Golfs pass the MOT first time, measured across 811 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 47,906.

Electric against the other Volkswagen Golf versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

No exhaust, no emissions test and far fewer moving parts, which is why EVs post the highest pass rates of any fuel type. Tyres and suspension take the load instead, since they are heavier.

On the Volkswagen Golf specifically, electric is the strongest at 87.8%, and this electric version sits 10.3 points above the 77.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The electric Volkswagen Golf 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. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average electric Volkswagen Golf had covered 47,906 miles at test, against 110,181 for the diesel and 77,612 for the petrol and 62,324 for the hybrid. That is below average for a car this age, worth a mileage-consistency check since an unusually low reading is sometimes clocking rather than luck.

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 Golf page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a electric Volkswagen Golf

1. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 4.4% of tests (2.63x the national rate for this defect)
2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 2.1% of tests (2.19x the national rate for this defect)
3. A tyre seriously damaged, 4.5% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.3% of tests
5. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1% of tests
6. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1% of tests (2.68x the national rate for this defect)
7. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
8. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.4% of tests
9. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 0.4% of tests
10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.4% of tests

From 816 DVSA-tracked electric Volkswagen Golf tests, 2024, split out from the Volkswagen Golf's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 8.11% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a electric Volkswagen Golf

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 26.3% of tests (6.73x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A tyre seriously damaged, 21.1% of tests (1.36x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.1% of tests, also fails
4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 4.9% of tests
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.6% of tests
6. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 1.1% of tests
7. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 1.1% of tests
8. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 1% of tests
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 0.7% of tests
10. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.6% of tests, also fails

From 816 DVSA-tracked electric Volkswagen Golf tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen Golf fuel types

• Diesel Volkswagen Golf - 74.7%
• Petrol Volkswagen Golf - 80.3%
• Hybrid Volkswagen Golf - 86.5%

All Volkswagen Golf MOT data · Every model