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RTE 447S

1978 Volkswagen Beetle

Silver Petrol 1192cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires14 Jul 2026
Tests18 (15 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

67,395 mi
Last recorded67,395 miles
Recorded on10 Jul 2025
Typical for 1978 Volkswagen Beetle45,494 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationRTE 447S
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1978
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,192cc

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 10 Jul 2025 67,395 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 15 Jul 2024 67,325 miles
Pass 22 Jun 2023 67,230 miles

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 27 Jun 2022 67,093 miles
Pass 17 Jun 2021 66,945 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Jul 2020 66,813 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2017 66,455 miles
Pass 30 Nov 2015 66,300 miles

Offside Front Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

oil leak

Fail 30 Nov 2015 66,300 miles

Offside Front Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

oil leak

Pass 24 Nov 2014 65,818 miles
Fail 18 Nov 2013 65,423 miles

Slight play in both front upper axle beam arms

Slight play in steering

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 18 Nov 2013 65,423 miles

Slight play in both front upper axle beam arms

Slight play in steering

Pass 23 Oct 2012 65,351 miles

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 25 Oct 2011 60,848 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2010 58,608 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2007 52,441 miles

slight dampness around o/s rear brake drum but performance ok

Fail 9 Aug 2007 52,414 miles

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Headlamp switch faulty (1.7.1)

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

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

nearside and offside front inner wings starting to corrode

nearside and offside rear inner wings starting to corrode

Pass 22 May 2006 51,131 miles

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Beetle?

Based on 1,719,137 MOT tests across 112,454 vehicles.

71.7%
Pass Rate
4,798
Miles/Year
56
Year Lifespan
112,454
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 44,561
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 33,096
Stop lamp not working 28,079
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 27,964
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 23,197
Full Volkswagen Beetle reliability report

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RTE 447S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle in Silver with a 1,192cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

Across all 1978 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.7% with a typical mileage of 45,494 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Beetle fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 44,561 recorded failures. If you're considering buying RTE 447S, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Beetle typically stays on UK roads for around 56 years. At 48 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of RTE 447S?

You can check the full history of RTE 447S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was RTE 447S registered?

RTE 447S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 3 February 1978.

Is RTE 447S safe to buy?

The MOT history for RTE 447S 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 RTE 447S 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 RTE 447S. 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.