Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1985 Renault 18 GTS?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1985 Renault 18 GTS?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1985 Renault 18 GTS?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1985 Renault 18 GTS?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Renault 18 GTS (1985)

1,620 real MOT outcomes analysed

1985 Renault 18 GTS

CarHunch has 1,620 1985 Renault 18 GTS vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1985 Renault 18 GTS 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 Renault vehicles below.

Browse all Renault models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Renault 18 GTS 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.

The 1985 Renault 18 GTS is not represented in the DVLA's light-vehicle MOT database, so we have no test statistics to analyse — this cohort has effectively fallen out of the testing system, likely because very few remain on the road. What we do know is that you're looking at a car now approaching 40 years old; the 91,900 miles average suggests surviving examples have been used moderately rather than thrashed, but at this age mechanical and structural degradation is inevitable regardless of mileage.

The Renault 18 was a competent family saloon of the 1980s with a decent reputation for build quality, but parts availability and specialist knowledge are now extremely thin on the ground. If you're seriously considering one, treat it as a classic or hobby car rather than daily transport, budget generously for unexpected repairs, and have any purchase inspected by a mechanic familiar with 1980s French cars before you commit.

MOT statistics not available

We have 1,620 1985 Renault 18 GTS 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 →

Before you buy a 1985 Renault 18 GTS

Based on MOT data from 1,620 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 14,391 Renault 18 GTS vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 28.9%

4,157

Blue 19.2%

2,757

Red 15%

2,164

White 10.2%

1,464

Gold 9.1%

1,304

Silver 8.2%

1,184

Grey 3.9%

561

Black 2.6%

374

Beige 2.5%

354

Brown 0.3%

Maroon 0.1%

Bronze 0.1%

Other model years — Renault 18 GTS: All 18 GTS years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1984 1986

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