Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Volkswagen Up?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Volkswagen Up?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Volkswagen Up?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 Volkswagen Up vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Up reliable?

Based on MOT data from 21,076 vehicles, the 2013 Volkswagen Up has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Up?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Volkswagen Up are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (46.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (43.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (40.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Volkswagen Up?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Volkswagen Up (2013)

21,076 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86% first-time pass rate

2013 Volkswagen Up

CarHunch analysed 21,076 real MOT records for the 2013 Volkswagen Up. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 VW Up punches above the UK average with an 85.9% first-time pass rate, but one in four have experienced a dangerous defect at some point—that's a genuine buyer concern and suggests you'll want a thorough pre-purchase inspection. With nearly 10 advisories per vehicle on average, these little city cars need regular attention to stay in shape.

At 42,272 miles median, these are relatively low-mileage examples for their age, which is reassuring for a 2013. The 1.74 average failures per test indicates the core mechanicals are reasonably sturdy once you've sorted the advisory items, so factor in some immediate remedial work when budgeting and have a trusted mechanic check brakes, suspension, and fluid leaks before you buy.

The 2013 Volkswagen Up has a decent first-time pass rate (86%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

86%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

26%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.74

Over 11.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

42k

Middle half: 30k–57k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 9.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 21,076 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 21,076 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 46.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 21.6%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Lighting 11%

Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 8.1%

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 21,076 Volkswagen Up cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Volkswagen Up

Based on MOT data from 21,076 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	21,031	86%	1.75

Colour Breakdown

Based on 125,934 Volkswagen Up vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 27.6%

34,729

Red 25.2%

31,765

Black 17.6%

22,144

Blue 14.9%

18,756

Silver 12.5%

15,728

Yellow 1%

1,298

Orange 0.7%

921

Grey 0.2%

291

Purple 0.2%

204

Gold 0.1%

Turquoise 0%

Brown 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Volkswagen Up vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

42,272

typical

29,655

low mileage

56,510

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Volkswagen Up vehicles fall between 29,655 and 56,510 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 29,655 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 29,655–56,510 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Volkswagen Ups sit.

⚠ Over 76,288 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Volkswagen Up — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Volkswagen Ups are still on the road.

Strong survival — 19,640 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

11.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.74

Avg failures per vehicle

9.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volkswagen Up: All Up years → Which year to buy? →

2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Volkswagen →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Volkswagen Up stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing