CarVerify

Free Car Check

R88 AEM

1998 Volkswagen Golf

Silver Petrol 1600cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Jan 2026
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

94,544 mi
Last recorded94,544 miles
Recorded on15 Dec 2025
Typical for 1998 Volkswagen Golf100,017 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR88 AEM
MakeVolkswagen
ModelGolf
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,600cc

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 8 fail
Fail 15 Dec 2025 94,544 miles

Nearside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Pass 3 Jan 2025 92,648 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 20 Dec 2024 92,625 miles

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar fractured (5.3.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Dec 2023 89,045 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

n/s rear tyre close to wear markers

Fail 21 Dec 2023 89,042 miles

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement lower arm rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component pin or bush slightly worn trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

n/s front tyre bald on inner edge and on wear markers

n/s rear tyre close to wear markers

Pass 20 Dec 2022 83,362 miles

Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement inner rear (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside front upper strut attachment has slight play/movement . ( Mounting/bush ).

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement inner rear (5.3.4 (a) (i))

offside front tyre wearing on inner edge.

Fail 20 Dec 2022 83,362 miles

Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement inner rear (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside front upper strut attachment has slight play/movement . ( Mounting/bush ).

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement inner rear (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

offside front tyre wearing on inner edge.

Pass 6 Dec 2021 79,554 miles

Spare tyre defective bald inner surface ()

Fail 4 Dec 2021 79,554 miles

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut top bush or bearing has excessive wear or free play bush has excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut top bush or bearing has excessive wear or free play bush has excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm bald surface (measuring template used) (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Lower Items removed from driver's view prior to test empty tax holder ()

Spare tyre defective bald inner surface ()

Pass 14 Dec 2020 76,591 miles

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

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

Parking brake button cover missing

Parking brake has little reserve travel

Fail 14 Dec 2020 76,591 miles

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

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

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

Parking brake button cover missing

Parking brake has little reserve travel

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

Pass 19 Dec 2019 73,236 miles

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

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

Pass 19 Dec 2018 66,105 miles

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

Pass 11 Dec 2017 59,991 miles

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

Pass 15 Dec 2016 52,733 miles

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

Pass 14 Dec 2015 46,302 miles

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

slight restricted movement on rear wheels

Pass 17 Dec 2014 39,324 miles
Fail 17 Dec 2014 39,314 miles

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

Pass 6 Dec 2013 31,532 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2012 30,982 miles

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

Fail 5 Dec 2012 30,982 miles

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

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Pass 6 Dec 2011 30,398 miles
Pass 3 Dec 2010 29,720 miles
Pass 4 Dec 2009 28,184 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2008 26,169 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2007 24,249 miles
Pass 4 Dec 2006 22,371 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2005 20,108 miles

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

R88 AEM is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf in Silver with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 R88 AEM, 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 R88 AEM?

You can check the full history of R88 AEM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R88 AEM registered?

R88 AEM is a 1998 Volkswagen Golf, first registered on 17 December 1998.

Is R88 AEM safe to buy?

The MOT history for R88 AEM shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R88 AEM 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 R88 AEM. 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.