CarVerify

Free Car Check

DBY 847M

1973 Volkswagen Beetle

Red Petrol 1300cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Oct 2026
Tests21 (19 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate90.5%

Mileage

32,791 mi
Last recorded32,791 miles
Recorded on17 Sep 2025
Typical for 1973 Volkswagen Beetle46,746 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationDBY 847M
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1973
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,300cc

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 2 fail
Pass 17 Sep 2025 32,791 miles

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

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 3 Oct 2024 32,009 miles
Pass 19 May 2023 31,112 miles

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

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

Pass 21 Jun 2022 30,143 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both sides (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

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

Pass 12 May 2021 29,491 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

Pass 10 Feb 2020 28,872 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2018 27,631 miles
Pass 10 Nov 2017 26,908 miles

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Fail 10 Nov 2017 26,908 miles

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

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

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 27 Oct 2016 26,265 miles

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 10 Nov 2015 24,989 miles

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 6 Nov 2014 23,803 miles

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Pass 25 Oct 2013 22,790 miles
Pass 21 Nov 2012 21,184 miles
Pass 9 Nov 2011 20,017 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Fail 9 Nov 2011 20,016 miles

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

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

Front brake drums are distorted.

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Pass 8 Oct 2010 18,462 miles

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

Nearside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

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

Offside Rear Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 5 Oct 2009 34,069 miles

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

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

Pass 17 Oct 2008 31,906 miles
Pass 1 Nov 2007 29,318 miles
Pass 23 Nov 2006 27,710 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

DBY 847M is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle in Red with a 1,300cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90.5%.

Across all 1973 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.7% with a typical mileage of 46,746 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 DBY 847M, 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 53 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 DBY 847M?

You can check the full history of DBY 847M by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was DBY 847M registered?

DBY 847M is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 4 September 1973.

Is DBY 847M safe to buy?

The MOT history for DBY 847M shows 21 tests with a 90.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does DBY 847M 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 DBY 847M. 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.