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AE53 NHB

2003 Volkswagen Beetle

Silver Petrol 1595cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Aug 2026
Tests24 (19 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate79.2%

Mileage

71,273 mi
Last recorded71,273 miles
Recorded on21 Aug 2025
Typical for 2003 Volkswagen Beetle73,703 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAE53 NHB
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,595cc

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

19 pass 5 fail
Pass 21 Aug 2025 71,273 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 18 Aug 2025 71,271 miles

Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Offside and nearside inner and outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 15 Aug 2024 70,215 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 15 Aug 2024 70,215 miles

Central Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 3 Aug 2023 69,010 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2021 67,682 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Inner Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both rear (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 28 Sep 2021 67,677 miles

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Inner Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Inner Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both rear (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 30 Sep 2020 66,584 miles

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 16 Sep 2020 66,474 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting sill end (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting sill end (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 9 Sep 2019 64,587 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 11 Sep 2018 61,860 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2017 59,132 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2016 56,511 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2015 55,029 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2014 53,205 miles
Pass 13 Sep 2013 51,587 miles
Pass 20 Sep 2012 49,878 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2011 47,835 miles

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Pass 26 Aug 2010 45,633 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2009 42,962 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2008 38,034 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2007 33,871 miles
Fail 4 Sep 2007 33,756 miles

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 22 Aug 2006 28,768 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

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AE53 NHB is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle in Silver with a 1,595cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 79.2%.

Across all 2003 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.9% with a typical mileage of 73,703 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 AE53 NHB, 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 23 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of AE53 NHB?

You can check the full history of AE53 NHB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AE53 NHB registered?

AE53 NHB is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 15 September 2003.

Is AE53 NHB safe to buy?

The MOT history for AE53 NHB shows 24 tests with a 79.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AE53 NHB 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 AE53 NHB. 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.