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GAA 97S

1978 Volkswagen Beetle

Silver Petrol 1192cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 May 2027
Tests29 (19 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate65.5%

Mileage

14,459 mi
Last recorded14,459 miles
Recorded on15 May 2026
Typical for 1978 Volkswagen Beetle45,494 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

RegistrationGAA 97S
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1978
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,192cc

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 10 fail
Pass 15 May 2026 14,459 miles
Pass 16 May 2025 14,399 miles
Pass 18 May 2024 14,229 miles
Pass 29 Oct 2022 14,219 miles

Corrosion nearside and offside inner wings

Pass 11 Nov 2021 14,179 miles
Fail 25 Sep 2021 14,179 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Pass 12 Sep 2020 14,159 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2019 14,149 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2018 14,119 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2017 14,069 miles
Pass 17 Sep 2016 14,059 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2015 14,029 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2015 14,029 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 16 Sep 2014 13,999 miles
Fail 13 Sep 2014 13,999 miles

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

Pass 13 Sep 2013 13,999 miles

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

Fail 7 Sep 2013 13,999 miles

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

Fail 4 Aug 2012 13,999 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 4 Aug 2012 13,999 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2011 13,999 miles

nearside top door hinge mounting corroded

offside inner drive shaft boot split

Fail 27 Jul 2011 13,999 miles

Front registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Headlamp switch faulty (1.7.1)

Horn control missing (1.6.1)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Front Sub-frame insecure (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Position lamp switch faulty (1.1.A.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

nearside top door hinge mounting corroded

offside inner drive shaft boot split

Fail 26 Feb 2011 13,999 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

registration plate fitted to the front does not have black characters on a white background (6.3.2a)

registration plate fitted to the rear does not have black characters on a yellow background (6.3.2b)

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

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

offside rear axle tube gaiter split

Pass 21 Nov 2008 13,999 miles

slight corrosion

Pass 29 Nov 2007 13,999 miles
Fail 27 Nov 2007 13,999 miles

Front registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Lower Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)

Offside Rear Body or chassis is cracked, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Lower Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid close to minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

Pass 8 Dec 2006 13,949 miles
Fail 8 Dec 2006 13,949 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively chafed (3.6.B.4d)

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

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

Pass 8 Dec 2005 13,923 miles
Fail 2 Nov 2005 13,921 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Parking brake lever has excessive side play in the pivot and may disengage (3.1.4a)

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

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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GAA 97S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle in Silver with a 1,192cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.5%.

Across all 1978 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.7% with a typical mileage of 45,494 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 GAA 97S, 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 48 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 GAA 97S?

You can check the full history of GAA 97S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was GAA 97S registered?

GAA 97S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 1 February 1978.

Is GAA 97S safe to buy?

The MOT history for GAA 97S shows 29 tests with a 65.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does GAA 97S 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 GAA 97S. 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.