Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Volkswagen Transporter?

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 2013 Volkswagen Transporter?

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 2013 Volkswagen Transporter?

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.

How many 2013 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

38% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Transporter reliable?

Based on MOT data from 15,892 vehicles, the 2013 Volkswagen Transporter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Volkswagen Transporter?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Volkswagen Transporter are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (42.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41.4% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (29.4% 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 2013 Volkswagen Transporter?

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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Volkswagen Transporter (2013)

15,892 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.8% first-time pass rate

2013 Volkswagen Transporter

CarHunch analysed 15,892 real MOT records for the 2013 Volkswagen Transporter. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Volkswagen Transporter's 80.8% first-time pass rate is marginally above the UK average, but the headline concern is that 38.3% of these vans have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history—nearly double the typical rate—making safety checks essential before purchase. This is overwhelmingly a diesel story, with 15,877 of 15,892 vehicles in the dataset running on diesel, and that powertrain shows no separate weakness.

At nearly 90,000 miles on average, these vans have been worked fairly hard, yet they're averaging 2.49 failures per test, suggesting the mechanical core is reasonably solid; the real issue is the advisory count at 15.1 per vehicle, pointing to accumulated wear on trim, lighting, and minor systems rather than catastrophic failures. Before buying one, inspect the service history carefully and budget for suspension, brake hose, and wiring remediation—these are the wear items that rack up advisories on older Transporters.

The 2013 Volkswagen Transporter has a decent first-time pass rate (80.8%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

80.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

38.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.49

Over 12.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

84k

Middle half: 61k–112k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 15.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 15,892 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 15,892 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 42.5%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 28.3%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Oil leak, but not excessive

Brake wear 28.2%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Lighting 18.3%

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources · Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

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

Suspension & steering 12.5%

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 15,892 Volkswagen Transporter cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Volkswagen Transporter

Based on MOT data from 15,892 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.3% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (100%)	15,877	80.8%	2.49

Colour Breakdown

Based on 350,233 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 34.3%

120,085

Blue 15%

52,453

Silver 12.8%

44,723

Grey 12.3%

42,970

Black 8.9%

31,033

Red 7.3%

25,488

Green 3.5%

12,237

Yellow 1.7%

6,069

Orange 1.3%

4,406

Beige 1.2%

4,339

Purple 0.9%

3,276

Brown 0.9%

3,154

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

83,995

typical

61,499

low mileage

112,481

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Volkswagen Transporter vehicles fall between 61,499 and 112,481 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 61,499 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 61,499–112,481 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Volkswagen Transporters sit.

⚠ Over 151,849 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Volkswagen Transporter — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Volkswagen Transporters are still on the road.

Strong survival — 14,697 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.49

Avg failures per vehicle

15.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volkswagen Transporter: All Transporter years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Volkswagen Transporter stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing