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AV53 DHE

2003 Volkswagen Beetle

Blue Petrol 1595cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires22 Jan 2026
Tests25 (19 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76%

Mileage

135,966 mi
Last recorded135,966 miles
Recorded on23 Jan 2026
Typical for 2003 Volkswagen Beetle73,703 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationAV53 DHE
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2003
ColourBlue
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 6 fail
Fail 23 Jan 2026 135,966 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.1.1 (b))

Pass 22 Jan 2025 133,771 miles

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

Offside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Pass 17 Jan 2024 132,764 miles

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

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

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

Pass 17 Jan 2023 129,421 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2022 126,637 miles
Fail 19 Jan 2022 126,637 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Jan 2021 124,065 miles

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

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

Fail 20 Jan 2021 124,053 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 8 Oct 2019 118,045 miles

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

Fail 8 Oct 2019 118,045 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 5 Nov 2018 109,556 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2017 96,992 miles

centre exhaust bracket broken but still supporting exhaust

Pass 13 Sep 2016 82,050 miles

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 12 Sep 2016 82,043 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 8 Sep 2015 67,706 miles
Pass 15 Sep 2014 61,423 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2013 60,316 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2012 58,410 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2011 56,279 miles
Fail 15 Sep 2011 56,275 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 23 Aug 2010 55,566 miles
Pass 28 Aug 2009 47,999 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2008 40,156 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 14 Sep 2007 30,084 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2006 20,171 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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AV53 DHE is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle in Blue with a 1,595cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76%.

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 AV53 DHE, 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 AV53 DHE?

You can check the full history of AV53 DHE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AV53 DHE registered?

AV53 DHE is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 18 September 2003.

Is AV53 DHE safe to buy?

The MOT history for AV53 DHE shows 25 tests with a 76% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AV53 DHE 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 AV53 DHE. 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.