CarVerify

Free Car Check

KBW 814S

1978 Volkswagen Beetle

Silver Petrol 1192cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Jul 2027
Tests20 (17 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate85%

Mileage

82,714 mi
Last recorded82,714 miles
Recorded on15 Jul 2026
Typical for 1978 Volkswagen Beetle45,494 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

RegistrationKBW 814S
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

17 pass 3 fail
Pass 15 Jul 2026 82,714 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2025 81,411 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2024 80,973 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2023 79,939 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2020 79,911 miles
Pass 14 May 2019 79,886 miles
Fail 14 May 2019 79,886 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 27 Apr 2018 79,706 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2017 79,221 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2016 78,979 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2016 78,979 miles

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

Pass 18 Apr 2015 78,573 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Rear rear parking (secondary) brake grabbing slightly (3.7.B.6b)

Pass 29 Apr 2014 78,331 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2013 78,005 miles
Pass 13 Apr 2012 77,584 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 7 Apr 2012 77,549 miles

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 23 Apr 2011 77,155 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2010 76,780 miles
Pass 24 Apr 2009 72,972 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2008 68,195 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

KBW 814S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle in Silver with a 1,192cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 85%.

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 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 KBW 814S, 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 KBW 814S?

You can check the full history of KBW 814S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was KBW 814S registered?

KBW 814S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 1 March 1978.

Is KBW 814S safe to buy?

The MOT history for KBW 814S shows 20 tests with a 85% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does KBW 814S 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 KBW 814S. 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.