CarVerify

Free Car Check

VPA 720S

1978 Volkswagen Beetle

Silver Petrol 1192cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires25 Jul 2018
Tests17 (10 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate58.8%

Mileage

75,878 mi
Last recorded75,878 miles
Recorded on12 Jul 2017
Typical for 1978 Volkswagen Beetle45,494 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationVPA 720S
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

10 pass 7 fail
Pass 12 Jul 2017 75,878 miles

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

Rear wheel bearing has slight play both (2.6.2)

Fail 12 Jul 2017 75,876 miles

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Rear wheel bearing has slight play both (2.6.2)

Pass 26 Jul 2016 75,145 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2015 74,368 miles
Pass 30 May 2014 73,058 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

gear oil leak at n/s/rear outer seal

Pass 20 May 2013 71,802 miles
Pass 31 May 2012 70,758 miles

Minor leak from both rear ale tubes

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear fog indicator light intermitant fault

Fail 21 May 2012 70,755 miles

Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user (1.6.2b)

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

Minor leak from both rear ale tubes

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear fog indicator light intermitant fault

Pass 19 May 2011
Fail 19 May 2011 70,268 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Outer Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

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

front offside wheel bearing minor play

registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 25 Jun 2010 70,243 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2010 70,243 miles

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting corroded and its strength is seriously reduced (2.4.G.1)

Fail 20 Aug 2007 70,122 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake drum contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Rear brake drum contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

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

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

Pass 16 Aug 2006 63,090 miles

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

rear brak appication slightly uneven

Fail 16 Aug 2006 63,090 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

rear brak appication slightly uneven

Fail 4 Aug 2006 63,090 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4b)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim not in a clean condition affecting light output (1.2.4a)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Pass 20 Aug 2005 61,131 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

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

VPA 720S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle in Silver with a 1,192cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.8%.

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 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 VPA 720S, 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 VPA 720S?

You can check the full history of VPA 720S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VPA 720S registered?

VPA 720S is a 1978 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 18 January 1978.

Is VPA 720S safe to buy?

The MOT history for VPA 720S shows 17 tests with a 58.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VPA 720S 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 VPA 720S. 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.