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AU53 VFR

2003 Volkswagen Beetle

Yellow Petrol 1595cc

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MOT Status

Valid

Expires15 Oct 2026

Tests30 (20 pass, 10 fail)

Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

133,163 mi

Last recorded133,163 miles

Recorded on16 Oct 2025

Typical for 2003 Volkswagen Beetle73,703 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAU53 VFR

MakeVolkswagen

ModelBeetle

Year2003

ColourYellow

Fuel typePetrol

Engine1,595cc

View full Volkswagen Beetle reliability data Browse other 2003 Volkswagen Beetle registrations

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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 10 fail

Pass 16 Oct 2025 133,163 miles

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material rear of front to rear corroding (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

Nearside Front small hole sill bottom

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 2 Oct 2025 133,115 miles

Electronic stability control warning lamp indicates a fault (7.12 (e))

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill end (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength under sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill end (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material rear of front to rear corroding (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

Nearside Front small hole sill bottom

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Oct 2024 128,974 miles

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear corroding (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 4 Oct 2023 124,496 miles

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 4 Oct 2023 124,496 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Oct 2022 120,187 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

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

exhaust corroded

Fail 6 Oct 2022 120,128 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Offside Front sill holed

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

exhaust corroded

Pass 15 Oct 2021 116,047 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front small hole in sill

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

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Fail 8 Oct 2021 115,979 miles

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill holed (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front small hole in sill

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

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Oct 2020 111,325 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front sill corroded and holed

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

Offside Front sill corroded

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

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

Fail 9 Oct 2020 111,325 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front sill corroded and holed

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

Offside Front sill corroded

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

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

Pass 8 Oct 2019 106,534 miles

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear oxidizing (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Pass 10 Oct 2018 100,331 miles

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear oxidizing (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge approx 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge approx 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge approx 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 5 Oct 2017 93,759 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

nearside rear and nearside front to rear brake pipes oxidizing

Fail 5 Oct 2017 93,759 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

nearside rear and nearside front to rear brake pipes oxidizing

Pass 14 Oct 2016 87,542 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Front brake disc modified but not seriously weakened (3.5.1n)

exhaust deteriated, center mount unattached and clamps corroded

nearside front to rear and both rear brake pipes oxidizing

Fail 7 Oct 2016 87,537 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded sill (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded sill (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Front brake disc modified but not seriously weakened (3.5.1n)

exhaust deteriated, center mount unattached and clamps corroded

nearside front to rear and both rear brake pipes oxidizing

Pass 9 Oct 2015 83,250 miles

Fail 9 Oct 2015 83,250 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed due to stone cuts in two places (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Front tyre has nail in it. if punctured it is non-repairable

Pass 12 Sep 2014 78,369 miles

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

engine management light on

Pass 11 Oct 2013 71,962 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 12 Oct 2012 64,828 miles

Fail 12 Oct 2012 64,828 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 7 Oct 2011 56,923 miles

Pass 8 Oct 2010 50,192 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 9 Oct 2009 43,187 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 10 Oct 2008 35,326 miles

Fail 10 Oct 2008 35,326 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 11 Oct 2007 27,768 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 2 Oct 2006 21,520 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

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

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AU53 VFR is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle in Yellow with a 1,595cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 AU53 VFR, 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 AU53 VFR?

You can check the full history of AU53 VFR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AU53 VFR registered?

AU53 VFR is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 1 October 2003.

Is AU53 VFR safe to buy?

The MOT history for AU53 VFR shows 30 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AU53 VFR 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 AU53 VFR. 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.