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DNC 838Y

1982 Volkswagen Beetle

Purple Petrol 1300cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires7 May 2026
Tests13 (8 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

351 mi
Last recorded351 miles
Recorded on8 May 2025
Typical for 1982 Volkswagen Beetle42,199 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

RegistrationDNC 838Y
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1982
ColourPurple
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

8 pass 5 fail
Pass 8 May 2025 351 miles
Fail 7 May 2025 344 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 11 Oct 2023 93 miles
Pass 8 May 2015 45 miles

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

both front shockers have slight play in upper gland

Fail 22 Apr 2015 45 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

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

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

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

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

both front shockers have slight play in gland

Pass 22 Apr 2014 99,754 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fail 22 Apr 2014 99,752 miles

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 16 Aug 2012 99,533 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2008 99,107 miles
Fail 26 Mar 2008 99,106 miles

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

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

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Pass 14 Mar 2007 97,042 miles
Fail 14 Mar 2007 97,042 miles

Front Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)

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

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

Pass 30 Mar 2006 95,311 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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DNC 838Y is a 1982 Volkswagen Beetle in Purple with a 1,300cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

Across all 1982 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.0% with a typical mileage of 42,199 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 DNC 838Y, 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 44 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 DNC 838Y?

You can check the full history of DNC 838Y by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was DNC 838Y registered?

DNC 838Y is a 1982 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 1 December 1982.

Is DNC 838Y safe to buy?

The MOT history for DNC 838Y shows 13 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does DNC 838Y 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 DNC 838Y. 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.