Volkswagen Transporter Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Volkswagen Transporter vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 72% MOT pass rate
  • 5,059 Transporters checked
  • 8.5% had outstanding finance

Volkswagen Transporter reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Volkswagen Transporter history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Volkswagen Transporter car check:

Of the 71 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 8.5% had outstanding finance recorded and 4.2% an insurance write-off record.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a Transporter by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Volkswagen Transporter MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 4,644 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 72%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 8,000typical miles a year
  • 9.0%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 66,811MOT tests analysed
  • 2005–2017built (middle half)
  • 96%diesel; 3% petrol

Volkswagen Transporter common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Volkswagen Transporter, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the Transporter's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 20 Volkswagen Transporter MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Registration plate lamp not working3.0%
  2. Position lamp not working2.6%
  3. Stop lamp not working2.4%
  4. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively2.0%
  5. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
  6. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.8%
  7. Headlamp aim too low1.6%
  8. Headlamp aim too high1.5%
  9. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.5%
  10. Parking brake efficiency below requirements1.2%
Show all 20
  1. Fog lamp not working1.1%
  2. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.1%
  3. Coil spring fractured or broken1.1%
  4. Horn not working1.0%
  5. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.9%
  6. Track rod end ball joint has excessive play0.9%
  7. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.9%
  8. Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.8%
  9. Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases0.8%
  10. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.7%

Top 20 Volkswagen Transporter MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Brake pad wearing thin6.3%
  2. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge5.6%
  3. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.1%
  4. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.4%
  5. Oil leak, but not excessive3.9%
  6. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources3.9%
  7. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material2.6%
  8. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view2.4%
  9. Brake hose slightly deteriorated2.2%
  10. Play in steering rack inner joint2.0%
Show all 20
  1. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'1.8%
  2. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.7%
  3. Brake pipe slightly corroded1.6%
  4. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.6%
  5. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.5%
  6. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated1.5%
  7. Coil spring corroded1.4%
  8. Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated1.3%
  9. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases1.1%
  10. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil1.0%
  • Lights and indicators: 51% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 37% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 26% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 19% of failed tests
  • Number plate: 18% of failed tests
  • Brakes advisory: 25% of tests
  • Suspension advisory: 21% of tests
  • Tyres advisory: 20% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 4,644 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since March 2023 (66,811 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Volkswagen Transporter versions

Every Volkswagen Transporter version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "Transporter" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
Transporter (no version recorded) 4,177 72% Lights and indicators
Transporter T28
  • Transporter T28 Startline TDI: 105
  • Transporter T28 Highline TDI: 68
  • Transporter T28 H-Line TDI S-A: 22
  • and 2 more
 197 – –
Transporter T30
  • Transporter T30 H-Line TDI S-A: 47
  • Transporter T30 Startline TDI: 29
  • Transporter T30 Highline TDI: 22
  • Transporter T30 TDI: 8
  • and 5 more
 114 – –
Transporter T32
  • Transporter T32 H-Line TDI S-A: 28
  • Transporter T32 H-LN TDI 4M SA: 18
  • Transporter T32 Highline TDI: 18
  • Transporter T32 SE TDI BMT S-A: 15
  • Transporter T32 Startline TDI: 15
  • and 6 more
 110 – –
Transporter SE
  • Transporter SE TDI S-A: 25
  • and 1 more
 29 – –

Key history checks before buying a used Volkswagen Transporter

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Volkswagen on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the Transporter. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Volkswagen Transporter

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Volkswagen Transporter car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Volkswagen Transporter you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a Transporter by reg → See a sample report

Volkswagen Transporter MOT questions

How do I check a used Volkswagen Transporter for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 71 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 8.5% had outstanding finance recorded and 4.2% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a Volkswagen Transporter car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Volkswagen Transporter are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Transporter?

Registration plate lamp not working: found at 3.0% of the Volkswagen Transporter MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 51% of failed tests.

What is the Volkswagen Transporter MOT pass rate?

72% of 66,811 MOT tests on 4,644 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Volkswagen Transporter?

Going by its MOT records, the Volkswagen Transporter's most common failures are registration plate lamp not working (3.0% of tests); position lamp not working (2.6% of tests); stop lamp not working (2.4% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Volkswagen Transporter?

Brake pad wearing thin: noted at 6.3% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Volkswagen Transporter typically driven?

About 8,000 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 9.0% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Volkswagen car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Volkswagen Transporter