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SUK 521L

1973 Volkswagen Beetle

Blue Petrol 1285cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Oct 2026
Tests17 (14 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate82.4%

Mileage

9,109 mi
Last recorded9,109 miles
Recorded on18 Sep 2025
Typical for 1973 Volkswagen Beetle46,746 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationSUK 521L
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1973
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,285cc

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

14 pass 3 fail
Pass 18 Sep 2025 9,109 miles
Pass 3 Oct 2024 7,848 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2023 4,429 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2022 1,606 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2021 725 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2020 68,107 miles
Pass 28 Mar 2019 65,795 miles
Pass 27 Apr 2018 64,826 miles
Pass 12 May 2017 63,401 miles
Fail 8 May 2017 63,401 miles

Offside Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Lower Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 11 Jun 2015 63,355 miles

play on handbrake lever

Pass 11 Jun 2014 63,006 miles
Fail 20 May 2014 63,006 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Pass 12 Jun 2009 62,113 miles
Fail 25 Sep 2008 62,113 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Offside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 25 Sep 2007 61,870 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2006 61,473 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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SUK 521L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle in Blue with a 1,285cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.4%.

Across all 1973 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.7% with a typical mileage of 46,746 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 SUK 521L, 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 53 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 SUK 521L?

You can check the full history of SUK 521L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SUK 521L registered?

SUK 521L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 2 April 1973.

Is SUK 521L safe to buy?

The MOT history for SUK 521L shows 17 tests with a 82.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SUK 521L 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 SUK 521L. 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.