Volkswagen UP pass rate by year
Year is the year the car was first registered. Years with fewer than 100 tests are left out.
| Year | Tests | Passed | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 461 | 256 | 55.5% | |
| 2013 | 1,258 | 778 | 61.8% | |
| 2014 | 926 | 574 | 62% | |
| 2015 | 552 | 333 | 60.3% | |
| 2016 | 144 | 90 | 62.5% | |
| 2017 | 335 | 246 | 73.4% | |
| 2019 | 253 | 213 | 84.2% |
What the Volkswagen UP fails on
Share of Volkswagen UP tests with at least one defect in each category, compared with all cars. One car can fail on several categories.
| Category | UP | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels and tyres | 24.4% | 12.8% |
| Lighting and electrical | 15.9% | 17.6% |
| Headlight aim test | 6.4% | 9.3% |
| Steering and suspension | 4.6% | 18.5% |
| Brake performance test | 4.5% | 11.7% |
| Side slip (wheel alignment) test | 4.4% | 15.2% |
Most of these are cheap to check before the test: bulbs and headlight aim, tyre tread and pressures, wiper blades, and warning lights. See the pre-NCT checklist and what each category means.
Other Volkswagen models
| Model | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf | 90,509 | 50% |
| Volkswagen Passat | 45,527 | 42.9% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 38,485 | 46.8% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 14,830 | 67.3% |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 8,624 | 36.4% |
| Volkswagen Touran | 4,429 | 46.2% |
| Volkswagen CC | 3,740 | 39.5% |
| Volkswagen T-Roc | 3,474 | 87.9% |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 2,695 | 44.7% |
| Volkswagen Caddy | 2,334 | 46.7% |
| Volkswagen Scirocco | 2,154 | 43.2% |
All Volkswagen models · all makes
Cars with a similar pass rate
Models from other makes that scored closest to the Volkswagen UP (63.5%) in 2025:
Top of the table: Toyota C-HR (80%). Bottom: Peugeot 207 (32.5%). See the best and worst cars and pass rate by car age.
Book the NCT for your UP
The fee is €60 at every centre and the make of car does not change where you can test. The busiest centres, and every county:
Other makes
NCT cost
€60 full test, €40 retest, free visual retest.
How to book
ncts.ie, phone and the priority list.
Retest rules
Book within 21 days, finish within 30.
How often
At 4 years, every 2 years, then yearly from 10.
What to bring
Documents and quick checks before the test.
NCT waiting times
Days to the next free test, by centre.
Volkswagen UP NCT questions
What is the NCT pass rate for the Volkswagen UP?
In 2025, 63.5% of Volkswagen UP cars passed the NCT at the first attempt (2,561 of 4,032 initial tests), 14.2 points better than the average for all cars of 49.3%.
Which year of Volkswagen UP does best at the NCT?
Among years with at least 300 tests, 2017 cars did best (73.4%) and 2012 cars did worst (55.5%). Newer cars almost always pass more often, so compare against cars of the same age.
What does the Volkswagen UP fail the NCT on most?
The fail categories recorded most often for the Volkswagen UP were wheels and tyres (24.4% of tests), lighting and electrical (15.9% of tests), headlight aim test (6.4% of tests). One car can fail on several items.
Do these figures include retests?
No. The RSA make and model data covers initial tests only; retests are not included.
Source: RSA 2025 Make and Model Data, initial NCT tests only. The RSA notes the figures do not account for mileage, maintenance or service history, and small groups are excluded for data protection. Reviewed 2 October 2026.