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EBW 55J

1987 Volkswagen Beetle

White Petrol 1300cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Sep 2026
Tests12 (8 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

4,368 mi
Last recorded4,368 miles
Recorded on2 Sep 2025
Typical for 1987 Volkswagen Beetle46,595 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

RegistrationEBW 55J
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1987
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,300cc

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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

8 pass 4 fail
Pass 2 Sep 2025 4,368 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2025 4,368 miles

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt flexible stalk stretched or damaged likely to lead to failure under load loose at fixing (7.1.2 (b))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 18 Jul 2019 2,593 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2018 2,497 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2017 2,424 miles
Fail 28 Jun 2017 2,407 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (3.3.A.1b)

Headlamp aim too high both (1.8)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 12 Jun 2015 2,369 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2014 2,248 miles
Pass 21 May 2013 2,119 miles
Fail 14 May 2013 2,119 miles

Headlamp switch faulty (1.7.1)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 26 Jun 2009 1,950 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2009 1,950 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released (1.2.1e)

Offside Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released (1.2.1e)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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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EBW 55J is a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle in White with a 1,300cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

Across all 1987 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.2% with a typical mileage of 46,595 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 EBW 55J, 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 39 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of EBW 55J?

You can check the full history of EBW 55J by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was EBW 55J registered?

EBW 55J is a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 28 May 1987.

Is EBW 55J safe to buy?

The MOT history for EBW 55J shows 12 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does EBW 55J 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 EBW 55J. 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.