CarVerify

Free Car Check

PBL 789L

1973 Volkswagen Beetle

Yellow Petrol 1300cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Jun 2027
Tests14 (12 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate85.7%

Mileage

69,522 mi
Last recorded69,522 miles
Recorded on6 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
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

RegistrationPBL 789L
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1973
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,300cc

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

12 pass 2 fail
Pass 6 Jun 2026 69,522 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2025 69,038 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2024 67,976 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2023 67,386 miles
Pass 1 Jun 2022 66,131 miles

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

Pass 17 Aug 2018 66,088 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2017 65,557 miles

o/s/r inner wing corroded

Pass 19 Aug 2016 64,042 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2015 63,674 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 185/65/15 (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Rear outer tread/side wall starting to perish

Fail 14 Aug 2015 63,672 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 185/65/15 (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Rear outer tread/side wall starting to perish

Pass 15 Aug 2014 61,329 miles

n/s rear lamp slightly insecure

Fail 8 Aug 2014 61,329 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

n/s rear lamp slightly insecure

Pass 7 Aug 2013 74,722 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2012 74,622 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

PBL 789L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle in Yellow with a 1,300cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 85.7%.

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 PBL 789L, 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 PBL 789L?

You can check the full history of PBL 789L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was PBL 789L registered?

PBL 789L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 4 July 1973.

Is PBL 789L safe to buy?

The MOT history for PBL 789L shows 14 tests with a 85.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does PBL 789L 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 PBL 789L. 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.