Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Renault 5 Tl?

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 1987 Renault 5 Tl?

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 1987 Renault 5 Tl?

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 1987 Renault 5 Tl?

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 5 Tl (1987)

3,527 real MOT outcomes analysed

1987 Renault 5 Tl

CarHunch has 3,527 1987 Renault 5 Tl 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 1987 Renault 5 Tl 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 5 Tl 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.

We don't have MOT test data for the 1987 Renault 5 TL in the DVLA light-vehicle database, so we can't tell you a pass rate or defect breakdown. This car is now 37 years old, and most examples either haven't been registered for MOT recently, have been scrapped, or are registered as historic vehicles exempt from testing—which explains why only 3,527 records exist in the system with no statistical reliability figures attached.

What matters for a buyer is that any surviving 5 TL will be a classic or collector's car, not an everyday runner, and should be evaluated on its individual condition, history, and how it's been maintained rather than cohort statistics. If you're considering one, get a pre-purchase inspection from someone who knows 1980s Renaults—corrosion, electrics, and fuel systems are the typical trouble spots for cars of this age.

MOT statistics not available

We have 3,527 1987 Renault 5 Tl 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 1987 Renault 5 Tl

Based on MOT data from 3,527 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 107,564 Renault 5 Tl vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 25.2%

27,137

Blue 17.7%

18,986

White 14.1%

15,147

Green 10.3%

11,037

Silver 6.7%

7,199

Yellow 6.1%

6,600

Grey 5%

5,343

Beige 4.6%

4,926

Brown 3.9%

4,143

Gold 2.3%

2,467

Orange 2.1%

2,305

Black 2.1%

2,274

Other model years — Renault 5 Tl: All 5 Tl years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990

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Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Renault 5 Tl stacks up against a rival.