Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1983 Renault 20ts 5 Sp?

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 1983 Renault 20ts 5 Sp?

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 1983 Renault 20ts 5 Sp?

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 1983 Renault 20ts 5 Sp?

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 20ts 5 Sp (1983)

335 real MOT outcomes analysed

1983 Renault 20ts 5 Sp

CarHunch has 335 1983 Renault 20ts 5 Sp vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 335 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1983 Renault 20ts 5 Sp 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 20ts 5 Sp 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.

There is no MOT test data available for the 1983 Renault 20TS 5-SP in the DVLA light-vehicle database, so we cannot provide a reliability verdict based on pass rates or defect patterns. This is unsurprising: vehicles of this age are increasingly rare on UK roads, and many may have been withdrawn from testing or classified differently in the database.

What we do know is that the Renault 20 was a practical mid-range saloon of the 1970s and early 1980s, popular for family and fleet use but now almost entirely off the road. If you're considering one of the 335 registered examples still in the dataset, treat it as a classic or restoration project rather than a daily driver—these cars are now 40+ years old, and you should have any example thoroughly inspected by a specialist before purchase, since historical MOT records won't help you assess its current condition.

MOT statistics not available

We have 335 1983 Renault 20ts 5 Sp 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 1983 Renault 20ts 5 Sp

Based on MOT data from 335 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 6,434 Renault 20ts 5 Sp vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 28.1%

1,808

Green 20%

1,287

Grey 17.5%

1,128

Gold 12.2%

782

White 8.7%

558

Silver 4.5%

291

Red 4%

260

Black 2.4%

153

Beige 2.2%

143

Maroon 0.2%

Brown 0.2%

Other model years — Renault 20ts 5 Sp: All 20ts 5 Sp years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1982

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