2020 Volkswagen Up R-Line — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 621 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Volkswagen Up R-Line, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%).

Pass rate

621

MOT tests analysed

7.9%

Fail rate

better than

vs cars of similar age

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2020 Volkswagen Up R-Line
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	4.5%	28
2	Lighting & signalling	1.6%	10
3	Visibility	1.6%	10
4	Brakes	1.1%	7
5	Suspension	0.8%	5
6	Body, structure & corrosion	0.2%	1

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2020 Volkswagen Up R-Line
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Headlamp aim	10
2	Wipers	6
3	Washers	5
4	Rbt (sp)	2
5	Joints	2
6	Wheel bearings	2

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Volkswagen Up R-Line
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	16.6%	103
2	Other defects	6.0%	37
3	Brakes	5.8%	36
4	Visibility	1.9%	12
5	Suspension	1.0%	6
6	Lighting & signalling	0.5%	3

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2020 Up R-Line
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	523	7.5%
30-60k	95	9.5%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2020 Up R-Line
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	214	8.4%
2024	195	8.2%
2025	209	7.2%

What to check before buying a 2020 Up R-Line

Before buying a 2020 Volkswagen Up R-Line, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests for this year.

Tyres (4.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (1.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.

Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.

Frequently asked questions

How many 2020 Volkswagen Up R-Lines pass their MOT?

92.1% of the 621 2020 Volkswagen Up R-Line MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Volkswagen Up R-Line?

Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.6%).

Does the 2020 Up R-Line get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 30-60k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 621 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.