Official DVLA Record

1991 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER2.0L Petrol

J396 PRU

VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER (1991, Petrol, 1998cc) — mileage recorded at 130,136. MOT status: not recorded. Road tax: not taxed. Check full history before buying.

MOT Status
Expired
Valid until 27/05/2026
Tax Status
SORN
Statutory Off Road (SORN)
Fuel Type
Petrol
Year
1991
Engine
1998cc
Mechanical Assessment
The vehicle presents a worsening maintenance trend regarding its braking and exhaust systems despite a recent pass. While it cleared the most recent test in May 2025 at 130,136 miles, the history reveals a failure to address escalating mechanical issues promptly. The transition from a minor exhaust leak in 2024 to a major leak that caused a failure in 2025, followed by a minor again, suggests the owner is only performing the minimum repairs necessary to pass the MOT rather than engaging in preventative maintenance. At 35 years old, the recorded mileage of 130,136 miles is remarkably low, averaging approximately 3,700 miles per year. The data shows consistent, low-intensity usage, with only 5,261 miles covered between April 2024 and May 2025. However, this low mileage often correlates with the degradation of rubber-based components and age-related corrosion. The persistent issues with brake pipes and deteriorated dust covers indicate that the vehicle likely sits for long periods, allowing surface corrosion to progress faster than mechanical wear would suggest. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension and braking lines. The MOT record shows a recurring failure of the upper ball joint dust covers and persistent play in the joints dating back to at least 2024. More critically, the corrosion noted on the nearside and offside front brake pipes, along with a stiff rear load sensing valve, indicates a high risk of sudden failure in the hydraulic system. The buyer should also check for structural integrity around the exhaust manifold, as the repeated presence of leaks suggests the metalwork is thin or vulnerable to rust.
MOT Roadworthiness Analysis
45
/ 100 · Below Average
DVSA Test Records Evaluated

MOT Roadworthiness: Below Average

This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.

✗ MOT Expired or Failed
! Tax Status Unknown
! Average MOT pass rate (60%)
! Older vehicle
Experian Provenance Check

Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.

Verified Experian Data

Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for J396PRU

Data provided by Experian
Stolen
EXPERIAN
Available in full check
Finance
EXPERIAN
Available in full check
Write-off
EXPERIAN
Available in full check
Salvage
EXPERIAN
Available in full check
Imported
EXPERIAN
Available in full check
Exported
EXPERIAN
Available in full check
Scrapped
EXPERIAN
Available in full check
Destruction
EXPERIAN
Available in full check
V5C Logbook
EXPERIAN
Available in full check
£20,000 Experian Data Guarantee Included

Verify Outstanding Finance & Provenance Before Buying

Free DVLA records only confirm roadworthiness. Protect yourself against active finance repossession, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage fraud with an official Experian check.

✓ One-off payment (no subscription)✓ Instant on screen + PDF emailed✓ Official Experian registry✓ Apple Pay / Google Pay / Cards

Data provided by Experian

Technical Specifications

Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence

Estimate current market value

Generate an instant valuation benchmark based on live market listings, vehicle mileage, and recent dealer auction figures.

Full MOT History

Live data last synced with DVSA: 2 Jul 2026, 02:00
Mechanic's Historical Review
The vehicle presents a worsening maintenance trend regarding its braking and exhaust systems despite a recent pass. While it cleared the most recent test in May 2025 at 130,136 miles, the history reveals a failure to address escalating mechanical issues promptly. The transition from a minor exhaust leak in 2024 to a major leak that caused a failure in 2025, followed by a minor again, suggests the owner is only performing the minimum repairs necessary to pass the MOT rather than engaging in preventative maintenance. At 35 years old, the recorded mileage of 130,136 miles is remarkably low, averaging approximately 3,700 miles per year. The data shows consistent, low-intensity usage, with only 5,261 miles covered between April 2024 and May 2025. However, this low mileage often correlates with the degradation of rubber-based components and age-related corrosion. The persistent issues with brake pipes and deteriorated dust covers indicate that the vehicle likely sits for long periods, allowing surface corrosion to progress faster than mechanical wear would suggest. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension and braking lines. The MOT record shows a recurring failure of the upper ball joint dust covers and persistent play in the joints dating back to at least 2024. More critically, the corrosion noted on the nearside and offside front brake pipes, along with a stiff rear load sensing valve, indicates a high risk of sudden failure in the hydraulic system. The buyer should also check for structural integrity around the exhaust manifold, as the repeated presence of leaks suggests the metalwork is thin or vulnerable to rust.
MOT Test History Overview

Registered in 1991, this Volkswagen Transporter with plate J396 PRU has undergone 5 MOT inspections since May 2023.

Historically, this vehicle has passed 60% of its MOT tests, totaling 3 passes against 2 fails. The pass rate is roughly in line with national averages for vehicles of this age.

The most commonly flagged areas across all MOT tests are: Brakes (9 issues), Windscreen (8 issues), Suspension (7 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (5 issues), Lighting (1 issue). These areas are worth paying attention to when inspecting this vehicle.

There are 17 advisory notices in the MOT history. Advisories are not failures but indicate areas that may need attention in the future.

A total of 3 failure items have been recorded across all tests. Recent failure items include: “Nearside Front Battery insecure and likely to cause a short circuit (4.13 (a) (ii))”; “Horn sound not in accordance with requirements (7.7 (c))”; “Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))”.

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY