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2012 VOLKSWAGEN POLO1.4L PETROL

R8 SHP

Vehicle Insight Summary

VOLKSWAGEN POLO (2012, PETROL, 1390cc) — mileage recorded at 67,762. MOT status: valid. Road tax: paid. Check full history before buying.

MOT
Valid
Expires 14/09/2026
Tax
Taxed
Expires 01/11/2026
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£8.99
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Fuel
PETROL
Year
2012
Engine
1390cc
Expert AI · Mechanic's Insight
The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history indicates a reactive approach to repairs rather than proactive prevention. The most recent test in September 2025 at 67,762 miles resulted in a failure due to an insecure exhaust system and an offside front tyre fouling the bodywork. While these issues were rectified to secure a pass, the recurrence of failures suggests that the owner only addresses mechanical faults when prompted by the tester. The trend remains relatively stable in terms of passing but shows a lack of consistent preventative maintenance. At 67,762 miles, this 14-year-old Polo has covered low mileage, averaging approximately 4,840 miles per year. The data shows consistent usage between September 2023 and September 2025, with 8,218 miles recorded between those two test intervals. While the low mileage generally reduces wear on the drivetrain, low-mileage operation often leads to the degradation of rubber components and seals due to age rather than friction, which aligns with the suspension-related failure noted in the record. A buyer must physically inspect the front suspension assembly, specifically the anti-roll bar linkage, as the 2024 failure highlighted a perished dust cover. The insecure exhaust system also requires a close look to ensure the hangers and brackets are not heavily corroded, which is common on older vehicles of this age. Furthermore, the offside front tyre should be checked for uneven wear or sidew damage caused by the previous fouling issue, which indicates the tyre was potentially damaging the wheel arch. Given the age of the vehicle, checking for structural corrosion on the underbody and mounting points is essential despite the low recorded mileage.

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Free vehicle health score

75
/ 100 · Good

Public record health check: Good.

Based on free DVLA & DVSA signals. Premium checks for stolen/finance/write-off history are locked below.

✓ Valid MOT
✓ Taxed
! Average MOT pass rate (60%)
! Older vehicle
A score of 75 doesn't mean it's safe to buy. Private markers don't appear in public data.
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Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for R8SHP

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Stolen
Locked
Finance
Locked
Write-off
Locked
Salvage
Locked
Imported
Locked
Exported
Locked
Scrapped
Locked
Destruction
Locked
V5C Logbook
Locked
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Technical Specifications

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Full MOT History

Live data last synced with DVSA: 26 Jun 2026, 01:08
Expert AI · Mechanic's Insight
The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history indicates a reactive approach to repairs rather than proactive prevention. The most recent test in September 2025 at 67,762 miles resulted in a failure due to an insecure exhaust system and an offside front tyre fouling the bodywork. While these issues were rectified to secure a pass, the recurrence of failures suggests that the owner only addresses mechanical faults when prompted by the tester. The trend remains relatively stable in terms of passing but shows a lack of consistent preventative maintenance. At 67,762 miles, this 14-year-old Polo has covered low mileage, averaging approximately 4,840 miles per year. The data shows consistent usage between September 2023 and September 2025, with 8,218 miles recorded between those two test intervals. While the low mileage generally reduces wear on the drivetrain, low-mileage operation often leads to the degradation of rubber components and seals due to age rather than friction, which aligns with the suspension-related failure noted in the record. A buyer must physically inspect the front suspension assembly, specifically the anti-roll bar linkage, as the 2024 failure highlighted a perished dust cover. The insecure exhaust system also requires a close look to ensure the hangers and brackets are not heavily corroded, which is common on older vehicles of this age. Furthermore, the offside front tyre should be checked for uneven wear or sidew damage caused by the previous fouling issue, which indicates the tyre was potentially damaging the wheel arch. Given the age of the vehicle, checking for structural corrosion on the underbody and mounting points is essential despite the low recorded mileage.

AI insights are experimental and can be incorrect. All claims should be manually verified.

AI Analysis · MOT Narrative

Checking the history for this 2012 Volkswagen Polo (R8 SHP), we found 5 MOT results in the period of September 2023 to September 2025.

The vehicle has achieved an overall 60% pass rate, with 3 passes and 2 failures recorded. 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: Exhaust & Emissions (1 issue), Tyres (1 issue). These areas are worth paying attention to when inspecting this vehicle.

There are 2 advisory notices in the MOT history. Advisories are not failures but indicate areas that may need attention in the future.

A total of 1 failure item has been recorded across all tests. Recent failure items include: “Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))”.

AI insights are experimental and can be incorrect. All claims should be manually verified.

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY