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C88 BYF

1986 Volkswagen Polo

Red Petrol 1043cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Jul 2026
Tests18 (9 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

64,433 mi
Last recorded64,433 miles
Recorded on2 Jul 2025
Typical for 1986 Volkswagen Polo73,490 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

RegistrationC88 BYF
MakeVolkswagen
ModelPolo
Year1986
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,043cc

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

9 pass 9 fail
Pass 2 Jul 2025 64,433 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive gearbox & engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

general corrosion to vehicle

rear shocks corroded

Fail 27 Jun 2025 64,433 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength subframe/axle mount on lower & rear sills (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength axle/subframe mounts on lower rear sills (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Steering locking device missing track rod end split pin missing (2.1.3 (d))

Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system imbalanced across an axle Axle 1 (1.3.1 (b) (i))

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive gearbox & engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

general corrosion to vehicle

rear shocks corroded

Fail 31 Mar 2025 64,339 miles

Battery insecure and likely to cause a short circuit (4.13 (a) (ii))

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength chassis both sides by anti-roll bar (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt insecure (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Coolant leak ()

Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened both fronts (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated travel (1.1.6 (d))

Rear Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.1 (b) (i))

both rear shockers slightly corroded

brake master cylinder corroded

rear axle corroded

Pass 9 Mar 2024 61,843 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 1 Mar 2023 61,094 miles
Fail 15 Jul 2022 61,082 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

n/s/f suspension knocking unable to detect

vehicle under body corroded

Pass 10 Feb 2021 59,054 miles
Fail 10 Feb 2021 59,054 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 26 Jul 2019 55,398 miles
Fail 26 Jul 2019 55,398 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Fail 1 Jul 2019 55,333 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 28 Jun 2018 52,449 miles

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) both ()

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Fail 21 Jun 2018 52,449 miles

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

Speedometer cannot be illuminated (7.8 (c) (ii))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) both ()

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Pass 13 Jun 2017 51,542 miles

Front grease leak from front cv boots

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Oil leak at gearbox ()

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

different size tyres fitted front and rear

service brake efficiency just met

Fail 12 Jun 2017 51,540 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

service brake efficiency just met

Front grease leak from front cv boots

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Oil leak at gearbox ()

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

different size tyres fitted front and rear

Pass 25 May 2016 50,789 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 3 Jun 2015 53,684 miles
Fail 28 May 2015 53,679 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

Offside Front Steering locking device missing (2.2.C.1g)

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Polo?

Based on 14,598,296 MOT tests across 1,156,928 vehicles.

72.9%
Pass Rate
5,193
Miles/Year
35
Year Lifespan
1,156,928
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 467,706
Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 196,870
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 190,697
Stop lamp not working 181,097
position lamp(s) not working 168,944
Full Volkswagen Polo reliability report

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C88 BYF is a 1986 Volkswagen Polo in Red with a 1,043cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

Across all 1986 Volkswagen Polo models, the average MOT pass rate is 63.7% with a typical mileage of 73,490 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 Polo fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 467,706 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C88 BYF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Polo typically stays on UK roads for around 35 years. At 40 years old, this Volkswagen Polo is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C88 BYF?

You can check the full history of C88 BYF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C88 BYF registered?

C88 BYF is a 1986 Volkswagen Polo, first registered on 2 January 1986.

Is C88 BYF safe to buy?

The MOT history for C88 BYF shows 18 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C88 BYF 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 C88 BYF. 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.