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HVY 490L

1973 Volkswagen Beetle

Black Petrol 2007cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Jul 2027
Tests26 (19 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate73.1%

Mileage

93,098 mi
Last recorded93,098 miles
Recorded on29 Jun 2026
Typical for 1973 Volkswagen Beetle46,746 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationHVY 490L
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1973
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,007cc

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 7 fail
Pass 29 Jun 2026 93,098 miles
Pass 4 Jul 2025 92,695 miles

Headlamp switch does not immediately illuminate all dipped beam headlamps headlamp switch intermittent fault with switch. (4.1.3 (a))

Pass 2 Jul 2024 92,222 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2022 92,148 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted

Rear brake disc surfaces slightly pitted

Pass 17 Aug 2021 91,585 miles

all brake disc surfaces front and rear slightly pitted

Pass 7 Aug 2020 90,933 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2019 90,077 miles
Fail 1 Aug 2019 90,077 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

main beam warning light on all time in dash

Pass 27 Aug 2018 88,560 miles
Fail 17 Aug 2018 88,557 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Aug 2017 88,558 miles
Fail 11 Aug 2017 88,557 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

rear brake binding both side very badly binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 8 Aug 2016 87,587 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 5 Aug 2016 87,583 miles

Direction indicators flashing less than 60 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 31 Jul 2015 87,105 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2014 87,004 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2013 86,962 miles
Fail 21 Sep 2012 86,907 miles

Brakes could do with more effort at rear.

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 21 Sep 2012 86,907 miles

Brakes could do with more effort at rear.

Pass 13 Sep 2011 86,670 miles

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

Pass 14 Sep 2010 86,519 miles
Pass 27 Aug 2009 86,399 miles

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

Front brake hoses chafing slightly in full lock.

Slight bind, offside front brake.

Pass 23 Sep 2008 85,656 miles

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Pass 16 May 2007 85,434 miles
Fail 10 May 2007 85,434 miles

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1) DANGEROUS

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1) DANGEROUS

Fail 13 Jan 2007 85,425 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve movement (3.3.A.5)

Nearside Steering system has a tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (2.2.D.2a)

Nearside Steering system fouling (2.2.D.2a) DANGEROUS

Offside Steering system fouling (2.2.D.2a) DANGEROUS

Nearside front brake hose rubbing on body.

Nearside rear brake hose rubbing on suspension arm.

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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HVY 490L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle in Black with a 2,007cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.1%.

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 HVY 490L, 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 HVY 490L?

You can check the full history of HVY 490L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was HVY 490L registered?

HVY 490L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 15 March 1973.

Is HVY 490L safe to buy?

The MOT history for HVY 490L shows 26 tests with a 73.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does HVY 490L 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 HVY 490L. 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.