DVLA verified
MOT valid

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF1998 · 1.8L Petrol

S804 DBD

Vehicle Insight Summary

Considering this 1998 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF? It's a Petrol with a 1800cc engine showing 78,778 miles. MOT is valid and it's not currently taxed. View the full DVLA history below.

MOT
Valid
Expires 01/12/2026
Tax
No data
Fuel
Petrol
Year
1998
Engine
1800cc
Expert AI · Mechanic's Insight
The Volkswagen Golf passed its most recent MOT on 2 December 2025 at 78,778 miles with no defects recorded, leaving it roadworthy on paper. The maintenance trend reads as stable across the available history, though the record shows two failed tests on the same date in December 2025 and a prior failure in August 2025, all logged with no defects stated. Such entries usually point to administrative or presentation issues at the testing station rather than mechanical fault, but the buyer should confirm the reasons with DVSA. At roughly 28 years old the car shows 78,778 miles, an average of about 2,814 miles per year. The odometer moved from 67,392 miles at the October 2023 test to 74,643 by August 2024, then to 78,731 in August 2025 and 78,778 that December. This is low annual use for the age and suggests long idle periods. Low mileage paired with standing time often hides perished rubber components and corrosion rather than wear from driving. The clean defect lists give no flagged suspension bushes, brake discs, coil springs, or structural integrity concerns across the five tests. That said, a 1998 hatchback of this profile demands a physical inspection beneath the sills, subframes, and suspension mounts for rust the MOT may not have captured in detail. The tester should check for binding calipers and exhaust condition given the car's age. Previous keepers appear to have kept the Golf lightly used and presented it for annual testing without recorded advisories. The repeated same-day fail and pass in December 2025 implies paperwork handling rather than neglect. A pre-purchase check underneath remains sensible before commitment.

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

Free vehicle health score

70
/ 100 · Average

Public record health check: Average.

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

✓ Valid MOT
! Tax Status Unknown
! Average MOT pass rate (60%)
! Older vehicle
A score of 70 doesn't mean it's safe to buy. Private markers don't appear in public data.
Verified Experian Data

Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for S804DBD

Data provided by Experian
Stolen
Locked
Finance
Locked
Write-off
Locked
Salvage
Locked
Imported
Locked
Exported
Locked
Scrapped
Locked
Destruction
Locked
V5C Logbook
Locked

Premium Data Locked

Unlock the full Experian-powered report to reveal outstanding finance, write-off history, stolen status, and more.

Data provided by Experian

Technical Specifications

AI Intelligence

What's this car worth today?

Get an instant, AI-powered valuation based on live market data, this exact model, and recent auction results.

Full MOT History

Live data last synced with DVSA: Apr 15, 2026, 04:56 PM
AI Analysis · MOT Narrative

Our records for this Volkswagen Golf (S804 DBD) from 1998 show a total of 5 MOT tests between October 2023 and December 2025.

Across its entire MOT history, this Volkswagen has a 60% success rate (3 passes and 2 fails). The pass rate is roughly in line with national averages for vehicles of this age.

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

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY