Diesel Volkswagen Transporter: MOT pass rate
71.6% of diesel Volkswagen Transporters pass the MOT first time, measured across 277,378 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 125,438.
Diesel against the other Volkswagen Transporter versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 71.6% | 277,378 |
| Petrol | 68.9% | 8,770 |
| All Volkswagen Transporter | 71.5% | 286,264 |
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 Transporter specifically, diesel is the strongest at 71.6%, and this diesel version sits 0.1 points above the 71.5% 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. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel Volkswagen Transporter had covered 125,438 miles at test, against 98,390 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.
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 Transporter page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Volkswagen Transporter fuel types
- Petrol Volkswagen Transporter - 68.9%