CarVerify

Free Car Check

VBV 988L

1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan

Green Petrol 1600cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Apr 2027
Tests31 (17 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate54.8%

Mileage

46,860 mi
Last recorded46,860 miles
Recorded on15 Apr 2026
Typical for 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan51,092 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 £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

RegistrationVBV 988L
MakeVolkswagen
ModelMotor Caravan
Year1973
ColourGreen
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

17 pass 14 fail
Pass 15 Apr 2026 46,860 miles

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 10 Apr 2026 46,860 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect staying on main beam patten (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect staying on main beam patten (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system grabbing severely (1.3.1 (c))

Offside Rear Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel (1.3.1 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Oct 2020 46,832 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

Wheel bearing has slight play All (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Jun 2019 46,523 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Wheel bearing has slight play all (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 23 May 2019 46,523 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Wheel bearing has slight play all (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 19 May 2018 46,234 miles

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

all tyers cracking

Fail 9 May 2018 46,231 miles

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

all tyers cracking

Pass 25 Apr 2017 45,943 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2017 45,943 miles

Offside Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Pass 10 May 2016 45,143 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2016 45,137 miles

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

Pass 21 Apr 2015 44,621 miles

Steering component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.2.C.1h)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Fail 14 Apr 2015 44,616 miles

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Steering component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.2.C.1h)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 28 Apr 2014 43,607 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 10 Apr 2014 43,602 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 3 May 2013 42,152 miles

Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

chassis and axles have welding repairs

Fail 24 Apr 2013 42,147 miles

Nearside Outer Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.4.G.4e)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Outer Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.4.G.4e)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h) DANGEROUS

Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Nearside Inner Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.4e)

Offside Inner Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.4e)

chassis and axles have welding repairs

Pass 4 May 2012 40,422 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fail 19 Apr 2012 40,418 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Outer Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.4.G.4e)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Outer Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.4.G.4e)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 14 Apr 2011 39,132 miles

Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

n/s/r c.v boot cracking

Fail 12 Apr 2011 39,132 miles

Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Front Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

n/s/r c.v boot cracking

Pass 7 Sep 2010 39,007 miles
Fail 11 Aug 2010 39,004 miles

Front Steering arm has relative movement at its fixings (2.2.B.1h)

Front Steering damper leaking oil (2.2.C.1f)

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

Nearside Front Headlamp does not operate immediately when selected on dipped beam (1.7.4a)

Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) obviously incorrectly positioned (1.1.A.3a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 15 Aug 2009 37,898 miles
Fail 10 Aug 2009 37,898 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Front Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Direction indicator excessively damaged so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)

Offside Rear Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Lower Steering component damaged but serviceable (2.2.C.1d)

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

Pass 5 Aug 2008 36,855 miles

Front Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Front Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Pass 7 Aug 2007 36,118 miles
Fail 31 Jul 2007 36,114 miles

Brake pedal creeps down when held under pressure (3.3.B.1a)

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

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

Front front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Brake hose bulging under pressure (3.6.B.3)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front brake caliper leaking (3.6.A.1)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.2.B.1b)

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

Front Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 27 Jul 2006 34,964 miles

Nearside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

offside parking brake performance only half of the nearside indicating some need for attention

Pass 22 Jul 2005 34,656 miles
Fail 22 Jul 2005 34,656 miles

Offside Front front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Motor Caravan?

Based on 109,687 MOT tests across 8,425 vehicles.

67.5%
Pass Rate
1,075
Miles/Year
56
Year Lifespan
8,425
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 8,888
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 8,044
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 4,769
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 4,156
position lamp(s) not working 3,700
Full Volkswagen Motor Caravan 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

VBV 988L is a 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan in Green with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 54.8%.

Across all 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.7% with a typical mileage of 51,092 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 Motor Caravan fails its MOT is windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, accounting for 8,888 recorded failures. If you're considering buying VBV 988L, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Motor Caravan typically stays on UK roads for around 56 years. At 53 years old, this Volkswagen Motor Caravan is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of VBV 988L?

You can check the full history of VBV 988L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VBV 988L registered?

VBV 988L is a 1973 Volkswagen Motor Caravan, first registered on 6 April 1973.

Is VBV 988L safe to buy?

The MOT history for VBV 988L shows 31 tests with a 54.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VBV 988L 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 VBV 988L. 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.