CarVerify

Free Car Check

R809 TLB

1998 Volkswagen Golf

Grey Petrol 1984cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Dec 2026
Tests31 (20 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate64.5%

Mileage

170,451 mi
Last recorded170,451 miles
Recorded on9 Dec 2025
Typical for 1998 Volkswagen Golf100,017 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 £12.99

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

RegistrationR809 TLB
MakeVolkswagen
ModelGolf
Year1998
ColourGrey
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

20 pass 11 fail
Pass 9 Dec 2025 170,451 miles

Central Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 20 Dec 2024 165,623 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

light corrosion on undercarriage

Fail 20 Dec 2024 165,623 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Body panel corroded and likely to cause injury (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

light corrosion on undercarriage

Pass 14 Dec 2023 161,330 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut mounting damaged but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower wing is corroded

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

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut mounting damaged but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 12 Dec 2022 157,926 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

light corrosion on undercarriage

Pass 29 Dec 2021 153,887 miles

light corrosion on undercarriage

Fail 8 Dec 2021 153,847 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure (1.1.12 (d))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength lower jacking point (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 7 Dec 2020 151,384 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

light corrosion on undercarr iage

Pass 20 Jun 2019 145,891 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Fail 20 Jun 2019 145,891 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 26 Jun 2018 140,748 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 23 Jun 2017 135,961 miles

Front Macpherson strut has slight movement in the upper support bearing assembly (2.5.B.1b)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 16 Jun 2016 131,584 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear bumper adrift

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Fail 14 Jun 2016 131,583 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear bumper adrift

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Pass 2 Jun 2015 124,980 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2014 117,688 miles
Fail 27 Jun 2014 117,688 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

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

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

Pass 25 Jun 2013 109,602 miles
Fail 25 Jun 2013 109,600 miles

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Fail 26 Jun 2012 101,567 miles

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 26 Jun 2012 101,567 miles

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 10 Jun 2011 95,386 miles
Fail 9 Jun 2011 95,386 miles

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

near side door mirror glass

Pass 11 Jun 2010 90,032 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Fail 10 Jun 2010 90,031 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

o/s/r seat bottom insecure

rear bummper is adrift on the side ends

Pass 19 May 2009 81,890 miles
Fail 18 May 2009 81,890 miles

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

Exhaust rear box rubbing against the rear bumper.

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a pin or bush of an lower wishbone inner bearing (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 11 Jun 2008 74,897 miles

nearside rear door damaged

Pass 11 Jun 2007 70,764 miles
Pass 24 May 2006 64,675 miles
Fail 24 May 2006 64,675 miles

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

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

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.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

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

R809 TLB is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf in Grey with a 1,984cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.5%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 R809 TLB, 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 R809 TLB?

You can check the full history of R809 TLB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R809 TLB registered?

R809 TLB is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf, first registered on 9 March 1998.

Is R809 TLB safe to buy?

The MOT history for R809 TLB shows 31 tests with a 64.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R809 TLB 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 R809 TLB. 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.