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 Polo.
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With 685,494 currently licensed in the UK, the Volkswagen Polo is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Polo 5 stars in 2022, with 96% adult occupant and 89% child protection scores.
It has a 78.8% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, lighting, brakes.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,384 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £199/month or 30p/mile.
Theft risk is rated low at 2.8 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2022
MOT Pass Rate
78.8%
520,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£199
est. annual total
New From
£22,000
Euro NCAP tested the Polo in 2022 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
96%
Child Occupant
89%
Pedestrian
80%
Safety Assist
76%
There are 28 known DVSA recalls affecting the Volkswagen Polo. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/385
STOP -DRIVE - Do not drive your vehicle until the repair has been completed; it must be recovered to a workshop. The rear axle bolted connecting may not have been completed to specification. Risk of axle becoming detached and resultant loss of control and possible collision or injury.
Build dates: 2025-04-10 to 2025-04-10
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: 2009-08-08 to 2013-10-11
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: 2013-02-11 to 2013-05-20
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: 2006-11-08 to 2009-05-07
R/2025/208
The front passenger airbag may be faulty. In the event of an accident-related deployment the front passenger airbag may have a reduced protective effect also the gas generator housing may burst and components of the gas generator housing may come loose and cause serious or deadly injuries to vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2023-10-09 to 2025-03-28
+ 23 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 520,000 MOT tests, the Polo has a first-time pass rate of 78.8% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Polo 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 Polo are estimated at around £2,384 per year, or £199 per month.
Fuel
£895
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£889
/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 Polo achieves a combined fuel economy of around 58.9 mpg (47.1 mpg urban, 68.9 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLO | PETROL | 60.1 mpg | 1.0L |
| POLO | PETROL | 53.3 mpg | 1.2L |
| POLO | PETROL | 51.4 mpg | 1.2L |
| POLO | DIESEL | 72.4 mpg | 1.2L |
| POLO | PETROL | 48.7 mpg | 1.4L |
| POLO | PETROL | 60.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| POLO | DIESEL | 91.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| POLO | PETROL | 49.6 mpg | 1.5L |
Starting from £22,000 new, a Volkswagen Polo typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £16,500 | −£5,500 |
| 2 years | 64% | £14,000 | −£8,000 |
| 3 years | 56% | £12,350 | −£9,650 |
| 4 years | 50% | £11,100 | −£10,900 |
| 5 years | 46% | £10,200 | −£11,800 |
| 6 years | 43% | £9,500 | −£12,500 |
| 7 years | 41% | £8,950 | −£13,050 |
| 8 years | 39% | £8,500 | −£13,500 |
| 9 years | 37% | £8,050 | −£13,950 |
| 10 years | 35% | £7,650 | −£14,350 |
The Polo has a theft rate of 2.8 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 685,494 licensed and 50,763 SORN Polos in the UK (736,257 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Polo has a 78.8% first-time MOT pass rate based on 520,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Polo 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2022. It scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 89% for child occupant protection, 80% for vulnerable road users, and 76% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Polo are estimated at around £2,384 per year (£199/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 28 known safety recalls affecting the Polo. 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 Polo has a theft rate of 2.8 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 Polo starts from around £22,000. 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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