Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Volkswagen Golf.
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With 965,239 currently licensed in the UK, the Volkswagen Golf is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Golf 5 stars in 2024, with 96% adult occupant and 89% child protection scores.
It has a 79.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,659 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £222/month or 33p/mile.
Theft risk is rated low at 4.1 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2024
MOT Pass Rate
79.5%
680,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£222
est. annual total
New From
£28,000
Euro NCAP tested the Golf in 2024 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
96%
Child Occupant
89%
Pedestrian
78%
Safety Assist
80%
There are 48 known DVSA recalls affecting the Volkswagen Golf. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/357
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Our information shows your vehicle was originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Issue: The front airbag in your VW vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Build dates: 2008-11-06 to 2013-01-25
R/2025/256
On Golf vehicles of a limited production period belt systems were fitted to front passenger seat that may not have been correctly attached to the anchoring point near the lower B pillar.
Build dates: 2024-02-12 to 2024-04-11
R/2025/257
On Golf vehicles of a limited production period belt systems were fitted to front passenger seat that may not have been correctly attached to the anchoring point near the lower B pillar.
Build dates: 2024-04-02 to 2024-04-02
R/2024/266
On affected vehicles the software specification of safety-related systems and component groups may not have been in line with the standard condition at the time
Build dates: 2016-05-27 to 2016-05-27
R/2024/266
On affected vehicles the software specification of safety-related systems and component groups may not have been in line with the standard condition at the time
Build dates: 2016-05-23 to 2016-05-23
+ 43 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 680,000 MOT tests, the Golf has a first-time pass rate of 79.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Golf is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Volkswagen Golf are estimated at around £2,659 per year, or £222 per month.
Fuel
£803
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,131
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Golf achieves a combined fuel economy of around 65.7 mpg (53.3 mpg urban, 74.3 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOLF | PETROL | 65.7 mpg | 1.0L |
| GOLF | PETROL | 48.7 mpg | 1.2L |
| GOLF | PETROL | 47.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| GOLF | PETROL | 60.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| GOLF | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 166 mpg | 1.4L |
| GOLF | PETROL | 58.9 mpg | 1.5L |
| GOLF | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 53.3 mpg | 1.5L |
| GOLF | PETROL | 42.2 mpg | 1.6L |
Starting from £28,000 new, a Volkswagen Golf typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £21,000 | −£7,000 |
| 2 years | 64% | £17,850 | −£10,150 |
| 3 years | 56% | £15,700 | −£12,300 |
| 4 years | 50% | £14,150 | −£13,850 |
| 5 years | 46% | £13,000 | −£15,000 |
| 6 years | 43% | £12,100 | −£15,900 |
| 7 years | 41% | £11,350 | −£16,650 |
| 8 years | 39% | £10,800 | −£17,200 |
| 9 years | 37% | £10,250 | −£17,750 |
| 10 years | 35% | £9,750 | −£18,250 |
The Golf has a theft rate of 4.1 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 965,239 licensed and 130,154 SORN Golfs in the UK (1,095,393 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Golf has a 79.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 680,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Golf 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2024. It scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 89% for child occupant protection, 78% for vulnerable road users, and 80% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Golf are estimated at around £2,659 per year (£222/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 48 known safety recalls affecting the Golf. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Golf has a theft rate of 4.1 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new Golf starts from around £28,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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