Volkswagen UP MOT Check
MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Volkswagen UP. Check any UP by registration number below.
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83.5%
Avg Pass Rate
-2.2%
vs Volkswagen Avg
15
Year Ranges
Good
Reliability
Volkswagen UP — MOT Reliability Overview
The Volkswagen UP has an average MOT pass rate of 83.5%, which is 2.2 percentage points below the Volkswagen brand average of 85.7%. This is a strong result, indicating that the UP is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.
The most common reasons a Volkswagen UP fails its MOT are a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn. If you are preparing your UP for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.
Typical mileage for the UP is around 30,000 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used UP, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.
Before buying a used Volkswagen UP, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.
MOT Pass Rate by Year
How the Volkswagen UP performs at MOT across different model years.
2024
Based on 143 vehicles
0.0%
16.8%
2023
Based on 43 vehicles
0.0%
7.5%
2022
Based on 49 vehicles
0.0%
2.1%
24k mi
2021
Based on 1,309 vehicles
1.2%
4.3%
26k mi
2020
Based on 4,462 vehicles
1.3%
4.7%
23k mi
38k mi
2019
Based on 20,231 vehicles
2.0%
7.7%
26k mi
41k mi
2018
Based on 30,925 vehicles
2.6%
10.8%
42k mi
2017
Based on 31,315 vehicles
3.0%
13.2%
49k mi
2016
Based on 30,162 vehicles
3.2%
16.2%
2015
Based on 37,940 vehicles
3.5%
16.4%
88k mi
2014
Based on 49,795 vehicles
3.4%
16.5%
87k mi
2013
Based on 48,854 vehicles
3.1%
16.2%
90k mi
2012
Based on 33,464 vehicles
3.9%
19.0%
99k mi
2011
Based on 25,000 vehicles
0.0%
0.1%
18k mi
30k mi
58k mi
0
Based on 135,851 vehicles
44k mi
Top MOT Failures — Volkswagen UP
The most common reasons a Volkswagen UP fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Where Failures Occur
The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.
Front Nearside
Front
Typical Mileage — Volkswagen UP
Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 2011 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used UP.
At 3 Years
18,000
miles
At 5 Years
30,000
miles
At 10 Years
58,000
miles
Other Volkswagen Models
Compare MOT reliability across Volkswagen models.
Volkswagen UP — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Volkswagen UP MOT and reliability.
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen UP?
What are the most common MOT failures on a Volkswagen UP?
Is the Volkswagen UP reliable?
How do I check the MOT history of a Volkswagen UP?
What mileage should I expect on a Volkswagen UP?
Check Your Volkswagen UP's MOT History
Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.