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R517 VDA

1997 Rover Mini

Green Petrol 1275cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Oct 2026
Tests23 (14 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate60.9%

Mileage

64,890 mi
Last recorded64,890 miles
Recorded on23 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Rover Mini51,557 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR517 VDA
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,275cc

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

14 pass 9 fail
Pass 23 Oct 2025 64,890 miles

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

Fail 20 Oct 2025 64,888 miles

Nearside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced wheel arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced wheel arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced wheel arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced wheel arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.5 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Inner Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure wall (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 16 Oct 2024 64,653 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

corrosion under vehicle

rear shocks weak

Pass 4 Oct 2023 64,371 miles

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

corrosion under vehicle

Fail 4 Oct 2023 64,371 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

corrosion under vehicle

Pass 29 Sep 2022 63,956 miles

corrosion under vehicle

Fail 27 Sep 2022 63,954 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake cable damaged (1.1.15 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

corrosion under vehicle

Pass 16 Sep 2021 63,497 miles

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

handbrake cables and quadrants rusting

Fail 16 Sep 2021 63,497 miles

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

handbrake cables and quadrants rusting

Pass 16 Sep 2020 62,230 miles

o/s/r tyre perishing

rear handbrake cables corroding

rear shocks weak

slight movement in o/s/f bearing

Pass 20 Sep 2019 61,779 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2018 61,199 miles

Offside Front Inner wheel arch corroded

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 12 Jan 2018 61,188 miles

Nearside Front Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded door sill (5.2.6)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Offside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Front Inner wheel arch corroded

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 4 Oct 2016 60,735 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2016 60,735 miles

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 24 Oct 2014 59,675 miles
Fail 23 Oct 2014 59,675 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

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

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a) DANGEROUS

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a) DANGEROUS

Pass 19 Sep 2013 58,359 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2012 57,998 miles
Pass 16 May 2011 57,568 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 12 May 2011 57,543 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 28 Oct 2009 56,709 miles

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 28 Oct 2009 56,704 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

How Reliable is the Rover Mini?

Based on 519,169 MOT tests across 45,631 vehicles.

66.8%
Pass Rate
876
Miles/Year
47
Year Lifespan
45,631
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 32,036
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 24,016
Steering rack gaiter split 21,375
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 18,460
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 18,348
Full Rover Mini reliability report

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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.

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R517 VDA is a 1997 Rover Mini in Green with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.9%.

Across all 1997 Rover Mini models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.4% with a typical mileage of 51,557 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 Rover Mini fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 32,036 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R517 VDA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Rover Mini typically stays on UK roads for around 47 years. At 29 years old, this Rover Mini is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R517 VDA?

You can check the full history of R517 VDA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R517 VDA registered?

R517 VDA is a 1997 Rover Mini, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R517 VDA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R517 VDA shows 23 tests with a 60.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R517 VDA 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 R517 VDA. 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.