DVLA verified

1998 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF1.9L Diesel

S474 DHR

Vehicle Insight Summary

1998 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF — Diesel, 1900cc. This vehicle has 168,230 miles on record. MOT status: no valid MOT. Tax: not taxed. Review the complete history and specs.

MOT
Failed
No history recorded
Tax
Untaxed
Expires 17/06/2023
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Fuel
Diesel
Year
1998
Engine
1900cc

Vehicle Public Record vs. Hidden Financial Risk

30
/ 100 · Poor
DVSA MOT History: Verified

Public MOT roadworthiness: Poor.

This score reflects past DVSA test passes and advisory frequency. However, it does not check if the car has £15,000 of unpaid finance, an insurance write-off marker, or a police theft report.

✗ MOT Expired or Failed
✓ Taxed
✗ Poor MOT pass rate (0%)
✗ 2 dangerous defects found recently
Hidden Legal & Financial Status: PENDING

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Verified Experian Data

Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for S474DHR

Data provided by Experian
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: 30 Jul 2026, 01:01
AI Analysis · MOT Narrative

This 1998 Volkswagen Golf (S474 DHR) has a recorded MOT history spanning from June 2023 to June 2023, with 1 MOT test on record.

The vehicle has achieved an overall 0% pass rate, with 0 passes and 1 failure recorded. Given the frequent MOT failures, it is worth checking if major repairs have been properly addressed.

The most commonly flagged areas across all MOT tests are: Suspension (4 issues), Bodywork (3 issues), Lighting (2 issues), Tyres (2 issues), Brakes (2 issues). These areas are worth paying attention to when inspecting this vehicle.

There are 3 advisory notices in the MOT history. Advisories are not failures but indicate areas that may need attention in the future.

A total of 12 failure items have been recorded across all tests. Recent failure items include: “Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))”; “Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii))”; “Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii))”.

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

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY

Buyer's Guide

AI-powered analysis based on real MOT data and market insights.

Buying Score
22/100
Risk Level
Very High
Very High
Est. Annual Cost
£900-£1,200
Mileage
The mileage of 168,230 miles is typical ...

Our Verdict

Exercise extreme caution and proceed only if you are a specialist mechanic or prepared for significant structural repairs. This vehicle shows evidence of severe, systemic corrosion that compromises its structural integrity and safety.

Do not purchase this vehicle without a professional, thorough inspection of the chassis and floor pans. The MOT history shows a recurring and worsening issue with corrosion in 'prescribed areas'—specifically the sills and floor sections where seat belt anchorages are located. This is not merely cosmetic; it is a fundamental safety failure.

If you are considering this car, negotiate heavily based on the cost of welding and structural repair. Check if any recent welding has been carried out to address the 2023 failures, and ask for receipts. You should also investigate the condition of the fuel tank support strap, which was noted as corroded in 2019, and ensure the braking system has been fully overhauled, given the long-standing advisories regarding parking brake efficiency and binding brakes.

Reviewed by the IsItAGoodCar editorial team — AI-assisted analysis verified by automotive experts.

Data Sources

DVSA

MOT test records from the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency.

DVLA

Vehicle registration, tax, and specification data.

Experian

Market valuation, warranty, and recall intelligence.

AI Analysis

Machine learning insights trained on millions of UK MOT records.

Learn more about our methodology