Toyota Prius MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 142,293 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 77.7% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — above the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 86.5% of cars aged 3–5 years passed first time, against 63.5% aged 15–30 years.
Checking a Toyota Prius?
Model-level statistics cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Pass rate by vehicle age
| Age | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 26,191 | 86.5% |
| 6–9 years | 52,765 | 84% |
| 10–14 years | 38,711 | 72.3% |
| 15–30 years | 24,626 | 63.5% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a Toyota Prius to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Position Lamps — 3.7% of tests. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Registration Plate Lamp(s) — 3.5% of tests. The light over the number plate is out. A bulb.
- Anti-roll Bars — 2.9% of tests. Worn anti-roll bar links or bushes. Inexpensive but often recurring.
- Headlamps — 2.9% of tests. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
- Headlamp Aim — 2.6% of tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Wipers — 2.5% of tests. Worn wiper blades. Minutes to fix, and a fair hint that servicing was skipped.
What this does and does not tell you
A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.
Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.
How many Toyota Prius are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 126,090 licensed and 4,895 SORN vehicles in the Toyota Prius generic-model group.
Licensed and SORN trend for the Toyota Prius
Before you buy
- Position Lamps — 3.7% of tests in 2024. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Registration Plate Lamp(s) — 3.5% of tests in 2024. The light over the number plate is out. A bulb.
- Anti-roll Bars — 2.9% of tests in 2024. Worn anti-roll bar links or bushes. Inexpensive but often recurring.
- Headlamps — 2.9% of tests in 2024. A headlight fault, from a blown bulb to a failed unit.
- Check the actual Prius — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Other Toyota models
- Toyota Yaris — 71.3% pass
- Toyota Aygo — 74.8% pass
- Toyota Auris — 72.4% pass
- Toyota Rav4 — 79.3% pass
- Toyota C-hr — 85.7% pass
- Toyota Corolla — 66.1% pass
See every Toyota model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the Toyota Prius MOT pass rate?
77.7% of 142,293 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Toyota Prius passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the Prius fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are position lamps (3.7% of tests), registration plate lamp(s) (3.5% of tests), anti-roll bars (2.9% of tests), headlamps (2.9% of tests).
How many Toyota Prius are left in the UK?
126,090 were licensed and 4,895 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.
Does this tell me whether one particular Prius is a good buy?
No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.