In 2025, 158,018 Toyota Prius cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 79% passed first time, compared with 72% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Prius better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 27 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 92% of Priuss passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 62% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 3 to 20 years.
Toyota Prius All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Prius passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 1,684 | 92% | 88% | 51,673 |
| 4 years | 3,171 | 92% | 87% | 60,286 |
| 5 years | 10,100 | 89% | 86% | 71,939 |
| 6 years | 16,835 | 88% | 84% | 97,940 |
| 7 years | 15,161 | 88% | 81% | 108,753 |
| 8 years | 15,223 | 87% | 78% | 124,124 |
| 9 years | 14,589 | 84% | 75% | 149,391 |
| 10 years | 13,065 | 78% | 72% | 173,223 |
| 11 years | 10,606 | 76% | 69% | 160,372 |
| 12 years | 8,100 | 73% | 66% | 163,285 |
| 13 years | 7,793 | 72% | 63% | 175,633 |
| 14 years | 6,981 | 68% | 61% | 188,041 |
| 15 years | 9,249 | 67% | 59% | 185,134 |
| 16 years | 6,573 | 65% | 58% | 170,973 |
| 17 years | 6,128 | 64% | 57% | 161,646 |
| 18 years | 6,055 | 63% | 57% | 156,303 |
| 19 years | 3,162 | 61% | 57% | 161,543 |
| 20 years | 2,078 | 62% | 58% | 160,490 |
What fails most on a Toyota Prius
No single area stands out: the Prius fails on each part of the test at roughly the rate you would expect. It does comparatively well on emissions and leaks and steering.
Share of Prius tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 4.0% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.1% |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | Lights and electrics | 2.9% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 2.8% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 2.8% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 2.3% |
What to check when buying a used Prius
Based on where the Prius fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Lights and electrics: Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, number-plate and fog lights. Bulbs are cheap, but a seller who hasn’t noticed one out may have missed more. Repair guide
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Prius
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a PriusFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Toyota Prius?
In 2025, 79% of Toyota Prius cars passed their MOT first time, across 158,018 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 72%.
What do Toyota Prius cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.0% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (3.1% of tests); a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (2.9% of tests).
Other Toyota models
Toyota Yaris (71%), Toyota Aygo (75%), Toyota Auris (72%), Toyota RAV4 (80%), Toyota C-HR (86%), Toyota Corolla (71%). All Toyota models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.