Petrol Volkswagen Polo: MOT pass rate

72.6% of petrol Volkswagen Polos pass the MOT first time, measured across 547,284 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 67,319.

Petrol against the other Volkswagen Polo versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Volkswagen Polo specifically, petrol is the strongest at 72.6%, and this petrol version sits 0.8 points above the 71.8% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. 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 petrol Volkswagen Polo had covered 67,319 miles at test, against 106,118 for the diesel. That is a shade above the middle of the range, still ordinary wear rather than a red flag, but worth checking against the service book for the car's age.

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

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Volkswagen Polo

1. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.3% of tests (4.49x 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% of tests (2.15x the national rate for this defect)
3. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.1% of tests (2.1x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2% of tests (1.97x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.3% of tests (1.82x the national rate for this defect)
6. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.1% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.7% of tests (1.57x the national rate for this defect)
8. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.3% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this defect)
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.5% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5.5% of tests

From 549,744 DVSA-tracked petrol Volkswagen Polo tests, 2024, split out from the Volkswagen Polo's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.17% 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 petrol Volkswagen Polo

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, 7.7% of tests (1.97x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.8% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.3% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 1.9% of tests (1.47x the national rate for this defect)
5. A tyre seriously damaged, 19.3% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)
6. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.2% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 26.7% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 14.5% of tests, also fails
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 12.3% of tests
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 5.9% of tests

From 549,744 DVSA-tracked petrol Volkswagen Polo tests, 2024.

Other Volkswagen Polo fuel types

• Diesel Volkswagen Polo - 62.6%

All Volkswagen Polo MOT data · Every model