CarVerify

Free Car Check

C898 CUA

1985 Volkswagen Beetle

Red Petrol 1200cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Nov 2026
Tests17 (10 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate58.8%

Mileage

65,969 mi
Last recorded65,969 miles
Recorded on12 Nov 2025
Typical for 1985 Volkswagen Beetle41,702 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationC898 CUA
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1985
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,200cc

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

10 pass 7 fail
Pass 12 Nov 2025 65,969 miles
Pass 4 Nov 2024 63,140 miles

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

Pass 10 Nov 2023 61,613 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2023 61,613 miles

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

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Fail 9 Jun 2023 61,471 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced flickering. (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced flickering (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Rear Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 8 Apr 2022 59,642 miles

Steering damper weeping

Fail 8 Apr 2022 59,642 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Steering damper weeping

Pass 21 May 2020 58,895 miles
Pass 4 Jun 2019 94,505 miles
Pass 14 Nov 2017 93,783 miles
Fail 14 Nov 2017 93,783 miles

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

Pass 18 Feb 2016 92,511 miles
Fail 18 Feb 2016 92,511 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Fail 12 Feb 2015 91,166 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 12 Feb 2015 91,166 miles
Fail 17 Feb 2014 89,663 miles

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

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

Pass 17 Feb 2014 89,663 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

C898 CUA is a 1985 Volkswagen Beetle in Red with a 1,200cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.8%.

Across all 1985 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.9% with a typical mileage of 41,702 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 C898 CUA, 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 41 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C898 CUA?

You can check the full history of C898 CUA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C898 CUA registered?

C898 CUA is a 1985 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 20 November 1985.

Is C898 CUA safe to buy?

The MOT history for C898 CUA shows 17 tests with a 58.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C898 CUA 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 C898 CUA. 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.