CarVerify

Free Car Check

EF56 SMU

2006 Volkswagen Beetle

Black Petrol 1596cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Sep 2026
Tests29 (17 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate58.6%

Mileage

150,440 mi
Last recorded150,440 miles
Recorded on21 Aug 2026
Typical for 2006 Volkswagen Beetle67,762 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

RegistrationEF56 SMU
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2006
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,596cc

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

17 pass 12 fail
Fail 21 Aug 2026 150,440 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Blue smoke during fast idle emissions test

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 7 Aug 2025 150,120 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2024 150,085 miles
Fail 5 Aug 2024 150,082 miles

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

Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play inner (knuckle joint) (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Aug 2023 149,209 miles

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 23 Aug 2022 147,638 miles

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 18 Aug 2022 147,635 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Front Brake pad(s) worn down to wear indicator (1.1.13 (a) (i))

Offside Front Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (3.3 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Side repeater likely to become detached mirror jaggered ends (4.4.1 (c) (ii))

Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 12 Aug 2021 143,369 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Fail 12 Aug 2021 143,369 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 24 Aug 2020 139,745 miles

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 20 Aug 2020 139,712 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 6 Aug 2019 132,434 miles

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

front tyres worn inner edges

Fail 3 Aug 2019 132,367 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

front tyres worn inner edges

Pass 18 Aug 2018 127,779 miles

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Offside Front Side repeater insecure damged (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Fail 18 Aug 2018 127,779 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Offside Front Side repeater insecure damged (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Pass 26 Aug 2017 119,344 miles
Pass 27 Aug 2016 107,989 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

mil light on

Fail 27 Aug 2016 107,989 miles

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

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

mil light on

Pass 22 Aug 2015 94,436 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2014 84,788 miles
Fail 2 Sep 2014 84,788 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Fail 6 Dec 2013 80,958 miles

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

Pass 6 Dec 2013 80,958 miles
Fail 10 Dec 2012 67,260 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 10 Dec 2012 67,260 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2011 53,688 miles

Nail in offside rear tyre

engine bay covers fitted not allowing a full inspection

hub caps fitted not allowing a full inspection

nearside rear tyre cracking & perished

offside rear tyre cracking & perished

undertrims fitted not allowing a full inspection

Fail 5 Dec 2011 53,688 miles

Nail in offside rear tyre

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

engine bay covers fitted not allowing a full inspection

hub caps fitted not allowing a full inspection

nearside rear tyre cracking & perished

offside rear tyre cracking & perished

undertrims fitted not allowing a full inspection

Pass 9 Dec 2010 45,729 miles

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 11 Dec 2009 35,672 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

EF56 SMU is a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle in Black with a 1,596cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.6%.

Across all 2006 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.5% with a typical mileage of 67,762 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 EF56 SMU, 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 20 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 EF56 SMU?

You can check the full history of EF56 SMU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was EF56 SMU registered?

EF56 SMU is a 2006 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 12 December 2006.

Is EF56 SMU safe to buy?

The MOT history for EF56 SMU shows 29 tests with a 58.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does EF56 SMU 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 EF56 SMU. 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.