Honda Insight years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

7,610 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2009–2012 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

All 4 Honda Insight years have MOT pass rates above the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2009–2012
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

67.1%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 66.0% to 68.2%.

Honda Insight, all years67.1%
Same-age average, all vehicles60.1%

In 2025, 67.1% of the 7,610 initial MOT tests on Honda Insight cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 60.1%. That is 7.0 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific Insight

Its own MOT history, free.

Honda Insight MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2012age 13	1,211117,800	72.4%±2.6	+8.9 ptsall: 63.5%
2011age 14	1,663119,500	67.3%±2.3	+6.1 ptsall: 61.2%
2010age 15	2,714111,400	65.9%±1.9	+6.6 ptsall: 59.3%
2009age 16	2,022113,000	65.4%±2.2	+7.1 ptsall: 58.3%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common Insight problems at the MOT

Share of the 2,503 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics55.3%
Suspension26.6%
Brakes21.9%
Tyres18.3%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors15.8%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a Insight

Based on the areas where Honda Insight MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 55.3% of failed Insight tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Suspension
In 26.6% of failed Insight tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Brakes
In 21.9% of failed Insight tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Tyres
In 18.3% of failed Insight tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Insight's MOT history

Honda Insight questions

Which Honda Insight years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2009–2012. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Honda Insight reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 67.1% of initial MOT tests on Honda Insight cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 60.1%. That is 7.0 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Honda Insight problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 55.3% of failed tests), suspension (in 26.6% of failed tests) and brakes (in 21.9% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 15-year-old Honda Insight?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Honda Insight cars first used in 2010, about 15 years old, had a median of 111,400 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Insight's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Honda Insight

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Honda models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Honda Insight cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count