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Volkswagen Delivery Van Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Delivery Van car check

Is the Volkswagen Delivery Van reliable? We analysed 21,038 real MOT tests across 1,834 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 21,038 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.6%
Typical Mileage
48,126mi
Annual Mileage
994mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
54yrs

The Volkswagen Delivery Van is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Delivery Van.

Volkswagen Delivery Van Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Delivery Van. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Volkswagen Delivery Van MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Volkswagen Delivery Van to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

65.5%
1980
65.4%
1979
66.1%
1978
65.7%
1977
64.6%
1976
67%
1975
62.5%
1974
66.8%
1973
66.9%
1972
61.6%
1971
64.9%
1970

Volkswagen Delivery Van Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Volkswagen Delivery Van fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 2,223
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,126
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,121
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 1,016
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 889
Stop lamp not working 865
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 858
position lamp(s) not working 712
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 668
Horn not working 637

Volkswagen Delivery Van Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Delivery Van owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
377 mi/yr
Typical
994 mi/yr
Average
2,010 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,057 mi/yr

Volkswagen Delivery Van MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Delivery Van year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1980 498 65.5% 35,088 52,217 80,989
1979 5,147 65.4% 25,336 48,333 75,144
1978 4,201 66.1% 27,793 45,399 66,222
1977 2,704 65.7% 26,687 49,230 73,441
1976 2,991 64.6% 20,706 44,432 76,324
1975 1,666 67.0% 21,057 45,322 76,101
1974 875 62.5% 22,189 51,946 81,510
1973 1,719 66.8% 29,945 53,996 75,274
1972 608 66.9% 25,811 46,723 76,049
1971 185 61.6% 45,828 54,276 74,664
1970 57 64.9% 25,254 46,754 54,560

How Long Does a Volkswagen Delivery Van Last?

Based on 1,834 Volkswagen Delivery Van vehicles on UK roads.

Average
39.2 years
Median
40.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
54 years

Volkswagen Delivery Van Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Delivery Van MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
48,126 mi
75th Percentile
73,836 mi
95th Percentile
97,419 mi
Max Recorded
999,988 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Delivery Van

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1975

67.0% MOT pass rate from 1,666 tests

Year to avoid
1971

61.6% MOT pass rate from 185 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Delivery Van is 1975, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 67.0% across 1,666 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volkswagen Delivery Van Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Delivery Van THIS CAR 65.6% 21,038 48,126 mi 54 yrs
Volkswagen Golf 74.9% 22,270,993 83,305 mi 37 yrs
Volkswagen Polo 72.9% 14,598,296 60,351 mi 35 yrs
Volkswagen Passat 73.5% 6,960,690 105,632 mi 32 yrs
Vauxhall Astra Griffin Edition Turbo 89.2% 6,450 24,458 mi — yrs

Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Delivery Van trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Delivery Van?

The Volkswagen Delivery Van has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.6% across 21,038 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Volkswagen Delivery Van are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (2,223 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2,126), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (1,121). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Volkswagen Delivery Van owner drives around 994 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Volkswagen Delivery Van models stay on UK roads for around 54 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Volkswagen Delivery Van — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Delivery Van reliable?
Based on 21,038 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Delivery Van has a 65.6% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Delivery Van?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Delivery Van do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Delivery Van does around 994 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Delivery Van last?
Most Volkswagen Delivery Van models stay on UK roads for around 54 years based on our analysis of 1,834 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Delivery Van?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Volkswagen Delivery Van?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Delivery Van is 1975 with a 67.0% pass rate across 1,666 tests.