CarVerify

Free Car Check

RLT 98W

1981 Ford Escort

Beige Petrol 1298cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Apr 2026
Tests8 (8 pass, 0 fail)
Pass rate100%

Mileage

9,767 mi
Last recorded9,767 miles
Recorded on22 Mar 2025
Typical for 1981 Ford Escort51,762 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Ford
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

RegistrationRLT 98W
MakeFord
ModelEscort
Year1981
ColourBeige
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,298cc

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

8 pass
Pass 22 Mar 2025 9,767 miles
Pass 2 Apr 2024 8,801 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2023 7,178 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2022 5,910 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2019 68,555 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2018 66,619 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2016 66,346 miles
Pass 29 May 2015 66,116 miles

How Reliable is the Ford Escort?

Based on 4,961,191 MOT tests across 821,553 vehicles.

63.1%
Pass Rate
4,830
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
821,553
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 465,333
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 447,459
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 433,778
Brake pipe excessively corroded 419,450
constant velocity joint gaiter split 203,602
Full Ford Escort 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

RLT 98W is a 1981 Ford Escort in Beige with a 1,298cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 100%.

Across all 1981 Ford Escort models, the average MOT pass rate is 76.7% with a typical mileage of 51,762 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Ford Escort fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 465,333 recorded failures. If you're considering buying RLT 98W, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Ford Escort typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 45 years old, this Ford Escort is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of RLT 98W?

You can check the full history of RLT 98W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was RLT 98W registered?

RLT 98W is a 1981 Ford Escort, first registered on 3 February 1981.

Is RLT 98W safe to buy?

The MOT history for RLT 98W shows 8 tests with a 100% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does RLT 98W 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 RLT 98W. 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.