1996 Volkswagen Polo 1.4L Petrol · P493 HWC
1996 Volkswagen Polo (1.4L, petrol). First registered 24 Aug 1996. Recorded mileage 58,191 miles. MOT expired on 17 Sept 2026.
- Make & Model
- VOLKSWAGEN POLO
- Year / Origin
- 1996 · Preston
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 17 Sept 2026
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 58,191 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 1.4L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
P493 HWC Key Findings
- 26 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 17/09/2025
- 58,191 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 5 historical MOT failures
- 1 defect noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring suspension items (11 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
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.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
Estimate current market value
Generate an instant valuation benchmark based on live market listings, vehicle mileage, and recent dealer auction figures.
P493 HWC Mileage History
- 19/08/200536,212 mi
- 21/08/200638,555 mi+2,343 mi
- 22/08/200740,272 mi+1,717 mi
- 12/08/200841,654 mi+1,382 mi
- 26/08/200943,199 mi+1,545 mi
- 04/08/201044,262 mi+1,063 mi
- 04/08/201044,262 mi
- 15/08/201146,274 mi+2,012 mi
- 03/08/201247,926 mi+1,652 mi
- 07/08/201349,149 mi+1,223 mi
- 30/07/201450,201 mi+1,052 mi
- 31/07/201450,201 mi
- 10/08/201551,087 mi+886 mi
- 10/08/201551,087 mi
- 15/08/201651,726 mi+639 mi
- 09/08/201752,412 mi+686 mi
- 09/08/201852,890 mi+478 mi
- 13/08/201953,202 mi+312 mi
- 10/08/202053,455 mi+253 mi
- 10/08/202153,551 mi+96 mi
- 26/08/202253,689 mi+138 mi
- 18/08/202353,792 mi+103 mi
- 12/09/202454,867 mi+1,075 mi
- 19/09/202454,877 mi+10 mi
- 16/09/202558,190 mi+3,313 mi
- 17/09/202558,191 mi+1 mi
Average of roughly 1,095 miles per year across 26 recorded odometer readings.
P493 HWC MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
26 MOT tests are recorded for this 1996 Volkswagen Polo (P493 HWC) between August 2005 and September 2025.
The record contains 21 passes and 5 failures.
The most recent test on 17 September 2025 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 5 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Suspension (11 issues), Brakes (7 issues), Tyres (4 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (2 issues), Lighting (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 17 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))”; “Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))”; “Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Rear Bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))”.
Similar Vehicles
Similar Vehicles Checked Recently
Plate Neighbors
Batch Registration Neighbors (P493 Series)
Vehicles registered in the same regional DVLA batch as P493HWC.
TOYOTA
CELICA
VOLVO
900 Series
TOYOTA
HI-ACE
DAIHATSU
FOURTRAK
NISSAN
ALMERA
AUDI
CABRIOLET
YAMAHA
XTZ660
HONDA
CBR900RR
LAND ROVER
DEFENDER
HONDA
VFR750F
RENAULT
CLIO
SUZUKI
DR125
VOLKSWAGEN POLO Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1996 model year cars.
Regional DVLA Registration Directory
Vehicles and registration batches issued by regional DVLA offices across the UK.
Recently Checked UK Vehicles
Live vehicle history checks and MOT records recently queried by UK car buyers.