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SL53 VES

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Red Diesel 1968cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Sep 2026
Tests13 (10 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

142,616 mi
Last recorded142,616 miles
Recorded on20 Aug 2025
Typical for 2012 Volkswagen Beetle52,902 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationSL53 VES
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2012
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,968cc

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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

10 pass 3 fail
Pass 20 Aug 2025 142,616 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both front inner edges worn (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both tyres 3mm outer tread (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 20 Aug 2024 129,657 miles

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

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

Pass 30 Aug 2023 121,768 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2022 115,639 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2021 104,186 miles
Fail 26 Aug 2021 104,185 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm wearing on inner edge (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm wearing on inner edge (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Pass 3 Sep 2020 97,240 miles
Fail 1 Sep 2020 95,239 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and wearing inner edge (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and wearing on inner and outer edges (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Pass 23 Apr 2019 81,779 miles

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

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

Pass 18 Apr 2018 67,443 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2018 67,443 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 6 Mar 2017 47,553 miles
Pass 10 Dec 2015 28,259 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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SL53 VES is a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle in Red with a 1,968cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

Across all 2012 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.5% with a typical mileage of 52,902 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 Beetle fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 44,561 recorded failures. If you're considering buying SL53 VES, 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 14 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SL53 VES?

You can check the full history of SL53 VES by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SL53 VES registered?

SL53 VES is a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 12 December 2012.

Is SL53 VES safe to buy?

The MOT history for SL53 VES shows 13 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SL53 VES 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 SL53 VES. 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.