Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1980 Renault 5?

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 1980 Renault 5?

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 1980 Renault 5?

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.

What are common problems with the 1980 Renault 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1980 Renault 5 are: Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (20% of vehicles), Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (13.3% of vehicles), Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (13.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1980 Renault 5?

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 (1980)

1,183 real MOT outcomes analysed

1980 Renault 5

CarHunch has 1,183 1980 Renault 5 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

On this page

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

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1980 Renault 5 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 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 1980 Renault 5 in the DVLA light-vehicle database, so we cannot assess its reliability against the UK average using actual test results. The Renault 5 was a hugely popular city car and economy runabout throughout the 1980s, known for being cheap to buy, simple to maintain, and fun to drive despite modest performance—which meant many examples survived longer than expected.

Any 1980 Renault 5 you find today will be a genuine classic, now over 40 years old, and will require hands-on mechanical knowledge or a trusted specialist to evaluate properly. Before purchasing, have a pre-buy inspection carried out by someone familiar with 1980s French cars, focusing on rust (a chronic Renault weakness), engine gaskets, and fuel system condition, as parts availability and workshop familiarity vary widely by region.

MOT statistics not available

We have 1,183 1980 Renault 5 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 1,183 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 20%

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive

Brake wear 13.3%

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel · Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 13.3%

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front Inner Play in steering rack inner joint(s) · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 13.3%

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Other issues 13.3%

Oil leak

Wipers & washers 10%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1980.

Before you buy a 1980 Renault 5

Based on MOT data from 1,183 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 13,093 Renault 5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 42.7%

5,593

White 23.9%

3,128

Blue 16%

2,101

Silver 4.3%

565

Grey 3.6%

465

Beige 3.3%

438

Green 2.1%

279

Black 1.9%

255

Yellow 1.2%

160

Gold 0.4%

Bronze 0.2%

Orange 0.2%

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

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 1980 Renault 5 stacks up against a rival.