CarVerify

Free Car Check

P196 VRE

1997 Subaru Impreza

White Petrol 1997cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Nov 2026
Tests7 (4 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

125,148 mi
Last recorded125,148 miles
Recorded on5 Nov 2025
Typical for 1997 Subaru Impreza106,850 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Subaru
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

RegistrationP196 VRE
MakeSubaru
ModelImpreza
Year1997
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,997cc

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

4 pass 3 fail
Pass 5 Nov 2025 125,148 miles

Engine management light on

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Oct 2025 125,128 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Engine management light on

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 13 Jun 2019 116,197 miles

Nearside Front under bonnet forward flitch panel corroded

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge inner edge worn (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 5 Jun 2019 116,149 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn link (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear bush deteriorated (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt split (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt split (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front under bonnet forward flitch panel corroded

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge inner edge worn (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 4 Oct 2017 99,270 miles
Fail 28 Sep 2017 99,109 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Pass 1 Sep 2016 84,835 miles

How Reliable is the Subaru Impreza?

Based on 915,729 MOT tests across 72,693 vehicles.

75.7%
Pass Rate
4,996
Miles/Year
33
Year Lifespan
72,693
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 28,062
Registration plate lamp not working 19,494
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 17,247
position lamp(s) not working 16,099
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 15,281
Full Subaru Impreza 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

P196 VRE is a 1997 Subaru Impreza in White with a 1,997cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 7 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

Across all 1997 Subaru Impreza models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.2% with a typical mileage of 106,850 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 Subaru Impreza fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 28,062 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P196 VRE, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Subaru Impreza typically stays on UK roads for around 33 years. At 29 years old, this Subaru Impreza is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P196 VRE?

You can check the full history of P196 VRE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P196 VRE registered?

P196 VRE is a 1997 Subaru Impreza, first registered on 9 April 1997.

Is P196 VRE safe to buy?

The MOT history for P196 VRE shows 7 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P196 VRE 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 P196 VRE. 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.