CarVerify

Free Car Check

ABH 121C

1989 Volkswagen Beetle

Blue Petrol 1200cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Feb 2027
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

61,200 mi
Last recorded61,200 miles
Recorded on24 Feb 2026
Typical for 1989 Volkswagen Beetle44,131 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationABH 121C
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1989
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,200cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

20 pass 8 fail
Pass 24 Feb 2026 61,200 miles
Fail 24 Feb 2026 61,198 miles

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Feb 2025 60,690 miles
Fail 10 Feb 2025 60,688 miles

Offside Rear Brake lining(s) contaminated (1.1.13 (b))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 22 Feb 2024 60,003 miles
Pass 9 Feb 2023 59,096 miles
Fail 8 Feb 2023 59,095 miles

Nearside Front Upper Axle king pin is loose in the axle beam (5.1.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Upper Axle king pin is loose in the axle beam (5.1.2 (d) (i))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 1 Feb 2022 58,066 miles

Rear Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. Slightly low performance, slow to operate at light pedal pressures. (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 4 Feb 2021 57,372 miles

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 18 Feb 2020 57,185 miles
Pass 14 Feb 2019 55,367 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2019 55,366 miles

Nearside Front Axle king pin is loose in the axle beam (5.1.2 (d) (i))

Pass 15 Feb 2018 53,521 miles
Pass 24 Feb 2017 51,509 miles

Play in steering box

Fail 23 Feb 2017 51,509 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

rear parking (secondary) brakes imbalanced (3.7.B.6b)

Play in steering box

Pass 26 Feb 2016 49,783 miles
Fail 24 Feb 2016 49,783 miles

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Pass 24 Mar 2015 48,455 miles

n/s beam pattern poor

Pass 25 Mar 2014 47,203 miles
Pass 13 Apr 2013 46,364 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2012 46,139 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2011 45,829 miles
Fail 15 Aug 2009 45,251 miles

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 15 Aug 2009 45,251 miles

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

Oil leak

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 4 Jul 2008 44,660 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2007 44,229 miles
Fail 9 Jun 2007 44,229 miles

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 2 Jun 2006 43,306 miles

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Beetle?

Based on 1,719,137 MOT tests across 112,454 vehicles.

71.7%
Pass Rate
4,798
Miles/Year
56
Year Lifespan
112,454
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 44,561
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 33,096
Stop lamp not working 28,079
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 27,964
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 23,197
Full Volkswagen Beetle reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

ABH 121C is a 1989 Volkswagen Beetle in Blue with a 1,200cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1989 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.1% with a typical mileage of 44,131 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Beetle fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 44,561 recorded failures. If you're considering buying ABH 121C, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Beetle typically stays on UK roads for around 56 years. At 37 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of ABH 121C?

You can check the full history of ABH 121C by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ABH 121C registered?

ABH 121C is a 1989 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 15 March 1989.

Is ABH 121C safe to buy?

The MOT history for ABH 121C shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ABH 121C have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on ABH 121C. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.