CarVerify

Free Car Check

PL57 RFE

2008 Volkswagen Beetle

Red Petrol 1390cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 May 2027
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

120,246 mi
Last recorded120,246 miles
Recorded on11 May 2026
Typical for 2008 Volkswagen Beetle62,720 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

RegistrationPL57 RFE
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2008
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,390cc

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 8 fail
Pass 11 May 2026 120,246 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

Fail 5 May 2026 120,072 miles

Exhaust system insecure centre clamp (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre section (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

Pass 13 May 2025 113,004 miles

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Apr 2024 110,079 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 28 Mar 2024 110,059 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Inner Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 28 Mar 2023 102,845 miles

Nearside Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Service brake binding but not excessively o/s + n/s (1.2.1 (f))

Fail 24 Mar 2023 102,841 miles

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Road wheel fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Service brake binding but not excessively o/s + n/s (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 29 Mar 2022 96,539 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Fail 28 Mar 2022 96,256 miles

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 10 Mar 2021 88,549 miles

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 26 Mar 2020 84,431 miles
Fail 25 Mar 2020 84,431 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Pass 28 Mar 2019 75,591 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2018 69,529 miles

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 29 Mar 2017 65,251 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2017 64,896 miles
Fail 19 Jan 2017 64,896 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 22 Feb 2016 57,839 miles
Pass 13 Feb 2015 50,061 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2015 50,061 miles

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

Pass 13 Feb 2014 39,382 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 27 Feb 2013 31,310 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Vehicle's internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

Fail 27 Feb 2013 31,310 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Vehicle's internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

Pass 26 Jan 2012 24,590 miles

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 7 Feb 2011 16,087 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

PL57 RFE is a 2008 Volkswagen Beetle in Red with a 1,390cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

Across all 2008 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.6% with a typical mileage of 62,720 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 PL57 RFE, 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 18 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of PL57 RFE?

You can check the full history of PL57 RFE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was PL57 RFE registered?

PL57 RFE is a 2008 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 9 February 2008.

Is PL57 RFE safe to buy?

The MOT history for PL57 RFE shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does PL57 RFE 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 PL57 RFE. 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.