Bedford Midi (1988)

2,455 real MOT outcomes analysed

1988 Bedford Midi

CarHunch has 2,455 1988 Bedford Midi vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Still on the Road Colour Breakdown Compare Models

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1988 Bedford Midi doesn't appear in DVLA light-vehicle MOT records — it may be exempt, registered as a different vehicle class, or an import not subject to UK MOT testing. We don't have reliability stats for this specific model, but you can browse other Bedford vehicles below.

Browse all Bedford models →
No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Bedford Midi you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

UK

The Bedford Midi was a light commercial van rather than a standard car, and these 2,455 examples in the MOT database were tested under the standard light-vehicle regime. A first-time pass rate of 64.2% sits well below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these vans typically need repair work before they'll pass — though the low average of just 0.11 failures per vehicle indicates most issues are minor when they do occur. Diesel variants perform slightly better at 67.7% versus petrol at 63.8%, and dangerous defects are rare at just 1.0%.

With a median mileage of 74,100 miles for a 1988 vehicle (now 36+ years old), these surviving examples have been used relatively lightly, which is typical for vans that may have spent long periods off the road or in light-duty work. The 0.4 average advisories per vehicle confirms age-related wear rather than fundamental design problems — you're looking at cosmetic or minor mechanical deterioration. If you're considering one, budget for pre-purchase inspection and expect to factor in a few repairs before registration, but these vehicles can still represent good value as a restored project or working van.

MOT statistics not available

We have 2,455 1988 Bedford Midi vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

  • Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
  • Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
  • MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
  • Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT
Check on the official DVSA service →

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,455 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 46.3%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Brake pipe slightly corroded · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Other issues 45.1%
Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive · Horn not working
Lighting 36.5%
Offside Rear fog lamp not working
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.
Exhaust & emissions 20.4%
Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
Suspension & steering 18%
Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.
Wipers & washers 16.1%
Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1988.

Before you buy a 1988 Bedford Midi

Based on MOT data from 2,455 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 10,693 Bedford Midi vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 51.8%
5,540
Red 18.5%
1,983
Blue 18.5%
1,973
Green 2.5%
262
Grey 2.4%
258
Cream 1.2%
132
Yellow 1.2%
127
Beige 1.1%
116
Not stated 0.9%
100
Silver 0.9%
92
Black 0.6%
59
Brown 0.5%
51

1988 Bedford Midi — Still on the Road

11 vehicles from this cohort appeared in light-vehicle MOT records in 2024 — a small subset of the registered total, likely lighter variants or specialist conversions tested as light vehicles.

23 11 2014 2024

Based on vehicles from this cohort that appeared in the DVLA light-vehicle MOT database. Most vehicles of this type are tested under the separate DVSA HGV annual testing regime and are not counted here. Data from 2014–2024.

Other model years — Bedford Midi: All Midi years → Which year to buy? →
1985 1986 1987 1989 1990

Or browse all models: Bedford →

Compare with another model

See how the 1988 Bedford Midi stacks up against a rival.