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APL 979Y

1974 Volkswagen Beetle

Red Petrol 1600cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Apr 2027
Tests24 (18 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

67,421 mi
Last recorded67,421 miles
Recorded on31 Mar 2026
Typical for 1974 Volkswagen Beetle46,813 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationAPL 979Y
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1974
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,600cc

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

18 pass 6 fail
Pass 31 Mar 2026 67,421 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Upper Integral body structure is fractured but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced floor spine (6.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Upper Integral body structure is fractured but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced floor spine (6.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 17 Mar 2026 67,095 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Upper Integral body structure is fractured but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced floor spine (6.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Upper Integral body structure is fractured but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced floor spine (6.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 16 Apr 2025 65,444 miles
Fail 9 Sep 2024 64,346 miles

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced various places on floor pan (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 30 Aug 2023 62,881 miles

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play (2.2.2 (c))

Pass 8 Sep 2022 59,547 miles
Fail 19 Aug 2022 59,546 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 20 Aug 2021 56,425 miles

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 12 Aug 2020 52,548 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Pass 14 Aug 2019 48,278 miles
Pass 23 Jul 2018 46,392 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2017 45,916 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2016 45,680 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2015 45,431 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2014 44,924 miles
Pass 23 Jul 2013 44,631 miles
Fail 23 Jul 2013 44,631 miles

Front registration plate has a feature which changes the appearance or legibility of the characters (6.3.4c)

Rear registration plate has a feature which changes the appearance or legibility of the characters (6.3.4c)

Pass 20 Apr 2011 44,613 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2010 44,299 miles
Pass 17 Mar 2009 41,987 miles

Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

both front wiper slow

o/s/f seat belt retracting michanisem worn

o/s/f seat side to side play

rear seat rloor corroded

Fail 10 Mar 2009 41,954 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer missing (7.2.4c)

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Inner Front Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

both front wiper slow

o/s/f seat belt retracting michanisem worn

o/s/f seat side to side play

rear seat rloor corroded

n/s/f tyre cracked

Fail 7 Mar 2008 39,908 miles

Nearside Inner Track rod end loose (2.2.B.1d)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

both rear tyres have excessive cracking

Pass 7 Mar 2008 39,908 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

both rear tyres have excessive cracking

Pass 19 Mar 2007 39,773 miles

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

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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APL 979Y is a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle in Red with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1974 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.5% with a typical mileage of 46,813 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 APL 979Y, 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 52 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of APL 979Y?

You can check the full history of APL 979Y by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was APL 979Y registered?

APL 979Y is a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 31 December 1974.

Is APL 979Y safe to buy?

The MOT history for APL 979Y shows 24 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does APL 979Y 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 APL 979Y. 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.