Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Renault 21 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 1989 Renault 21 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 1989 Renault 21 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 1989 Renault 21 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 21 GTS (1989)

3,593 real MOT outcomes analysed

1989 Renault 21 GTS

CarHunch has 3,593 1989 Renault 21 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 1989 Renault 21 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 21 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 1989 Renault 21 GTS doesn't appear in the DVLA's light-vehicle MOT database, so we have no pass rates or defect statistics to analyse—this cohort either lacks sufficient recorded tests or has largely left the UK vehicle pool. What we can say is that this is a 35-year-old French saloon from the late 1980s, a practical family car of its era but now a period piece rarely encountered on the road.

If you're considering one, treat it as a classic or enthusiast purchase rather than everyday transport. Any survivor this old will have required significant maintenance and restoration; your priority should be a professional pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with 1980s Renaults, focusing on rust, electrics, and fuel system integrity—MOT history alone won't tell you what you need to know.

MOT statistics not available

We have 3,593 1989 Renault 21 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 1989 Renault 21 GTS

Based on MOT data from 3,593 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 21,962 Renault 21 GTS vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 22.6%

4,969

Red 21.8%

4,793

White 14.2%

3,124

Green 13.1%

2,881

Silver 11.6%

2,550

Grey 7.4%

1,626

Beige 4.1%

890

Gold 2.4%

534

Black 1.9%

421

Bronze 0.3%

Brown 0.3%

Purple 0.2%

Other model years — Renault 21 GTS: All 21 GTS years → Which year to buy? →

1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1993

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