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R496 SWA

1998 Volkswagen Golf

Red Petrol 1984cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Jun 2027
Tests18 (15 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

156,379 mi
Last recorded156,379 miles
Recorded on29 Jun 2026
Typical for 1998 Volkswagen Golf100,017 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR496 SWA
MakeVolkswagen
ModelGolf
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,984cc

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

15 pass 3 fail
Pass 29 Jun 2026 156,379 miles
Pass 27 May 2025 156,376 miles
Pass 24 Jun 2024 156,371 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2023 156,332 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2022 156,208 miles
Pass 23 Jun 2021 156,156 miles
Pass 23 Jun 2020 156,136 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2019 156,044 miles
Pass 22 Jun 2018 155,184 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2017 154,282 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2017 154,270 miles

Rear Brake hose bulging under pressure both sides to the caliper (3.6.B.3)

Pass 24 Mar 2016 152,643 miles

Front front brake fluctuating, but not excessively both (3.7.B.3)

Pass 9 Mar 2015 151,086 miles

front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Pass 17 Mar 2014 149,633 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2013 148,244 miles
Fail 5 Mar 2013 148,243 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp emits other than a steady red light (1.2.1e)

Offside Rear Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

Pass 28 Mar 2012 146,510 miles
Fail 27 Mar 2012 146,510 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Golf?

Based on 22,270,993 MOT tests across 1,787,037 vehicles.

74.9%
Pass Rate
6,735
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
1,787,037
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 700,382
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 301,629
Stop lamp not working 260,234
position lamp(s) not working 257,206
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 229,092
Full Volkswagen Golf reliability report

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R496 SWA is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf in Red with a 1,984cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

Across all 1998 Volkswagen Golf models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.1% with a typical mileage of 100,017 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Golf fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 700,382 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R496 SWA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Golf typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 28 years old, this Volkswagen Golf is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R496 SWA?

You can check the full history of R496 SWA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R496 SWA registered?

R496 SWA is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf, first registered on 24 April 1998.

Is R496 SWA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R496 SWA shows 18 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R496 SWA 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 R496 SWA. 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.