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7540 K

2003 Volkswagen Beetle

Black Diesel 1896cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires8 Feb 2026
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

163,080 mi
Last recorded163,080 miles
Recorded on4 Feb 2025
Typical for 2003 Volkswagen Beetle73,703 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
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Vehicle Details

Registration7540 K
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2003
ColourBlack
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,896cc

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

19 pass 9 fail
Pass 4 Feb 2025 163,080 miles

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

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule Both NS/OS (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Rear Service brake binding but not excessively Both NS/OS (1.2.1 (f))

Fail 4 Feb 2025 163,079 miles

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

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

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule Both NS/OS (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Rear Service brake binding but not excessively Both NS/OS (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 30 Jan 2024 159,028 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear @ rear (1.1.11 (c))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Fail 30 Jan 2024 159,028 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear @ rear (1.1.11 (c))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Pass 9 Feb 2023 154,557 miles

Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Central Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front upper (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer body sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Fail 3 Feb 2023 154,554 miles

Headlamp lens seriously defective BOTH (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Headlamp light intensity severely reduced BOTH (4.1.4 (a))

Headlamp reflector seriously defective BOTH (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

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

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

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Central Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front upper (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer body sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 31 Jan 2022 150,312 miles

Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Central Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 26 Jan 2022 150,268 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (5.2.3 (i))

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced central outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Central Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 1 Feb 2021 145,257 miles
Fail 1 Feb 2021 145,257 miles

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

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 17 Jan 2020 141,514 miles

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Pass 29 Jan 2019 133,505 miles

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

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

Fail 24 Jan 2019 133,472 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Pass 23 Jan 2018 126,887 miles

Both front tyres wearing on outer and inner edge

Fail 23 Jan 2018 126,887 miles

Both front tyres wearing on outer and inner edge

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

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

Pass 18 Jan 2017 121,210 miles
Fail 18 Jan 2017 121,210 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Obligatory mirror insecure (8.1.1)

Pass 29 Jan 2016 111,481 miles
Fail 29 Jan 2016 111,481 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 17 Nov 2014 101,328 miles
Pass 19 Nov 2013 91,892 miles
Pass 21 Nov 2012 81,053 miles
Pass 23 Nov 2011 72,245 miles
Pass 1 Dec 2010 62,171 miles
Pass 19 Nov 2009 51,633 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2008 42,147 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2007 32,850 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2006 25,175 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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7540 K is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle in Black with a 1,896cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

Across all 2003 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.9% with a typical mileage of 73,703 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 7540 K, 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 23 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 7540 K?

You can check the full history of 7540 K by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 7540 K registered?

7540 K is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 1 September 2003.

Is 7540 K safe to buy?

The MOT history for 7540 K shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 7540 K 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 7540 K. 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.