Verdict
The Honda Insight passes its MOT first time on 72.6% of tests, 9.5 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (63.1%). That puts it ahead of 87% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
Of its engines, the 1.3 Petrol does best (beats 88%) and the 1.3 Hybrid worst (beats 85%).
Better than average on tyres, brakes, suspension.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Hybrid | 72.1% | Beats 85% | A |
| 1.3 Petrol | 72.5% | Beats 88% | A |
| 1.3 OT | 75.2% | Beats 92% | A |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Headlight bulbs & units 1.4× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides. - Indicator side repeaters 1.6× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Windscreen wipers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left. - Brake pads
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidelights | 5.1% | 4.7% | 1.1× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 4.1% | 3.0% | 1.4× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 3.3% | 4.0% | 0.8× |
| Windscreen wipers | 2.9% | 2.3% | 1.3× |
| Headlight aim | 2.8% | 4.1% | 0.7× |
| Number plate lights | 2.6% | 2.4% | 1.1× |
| Brake pads | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.0× |
| Tyre tread depth | 2.1% | 3.4% | 0.6× |
| Ball joint dust covers | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.2× |
| Windscreen washers | 1.3% | 2.8% | 0.5× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 42.5 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 28.9 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 28.3 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 25.3 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 22.6 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 22.4 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 21.0 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 20.7 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2014 Honda Insight1 engine80.0% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Hybrid | 80.0% | Beats 84% | A |
2013 Honda Insight1 engine77.9% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Hybrid | 77.9% | Beats 88% | A |
2012 Honda Insight3 engines75.2% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Hybrid | 74.5% | Beats 87% | A |
| 1.3 Petrol | 75.7% | Beats 89% | A |
| 1.3 OT | 77.7% | Beats 93% | A |
2011 Honda Insight3 engines73.0% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Hybrid | 71.1% | Beats 83% | A |
| 1.3 Petrol | 74.9% | Beats 91% | A |
| 1.3 OT | 76.8% | Beats 94% | A |
2010 Honda Insight3 engines71.2% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Hybrid | 70.2% | Beats 84% | A |
| 1.3 Petrol | 71.4% | Beats 85% | A |
| 1.3 OT | 74.5% | Beats 92% | A |
2009 Honda Insight3 engines70.0% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Hybrid | 68.9% | Beats 84% | A |
| 1.3 Petrol | 70.7% | Beats 88% | A |
| 1.3 OT | 72.5% | Beats 91% | A |
FAQ
What is the Honda Insight MOT pass rate?
72.6% of MOT tests on the Honda Insight were passed first time, based on 80,969 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2009–2014. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 63.1% of the time.
Is the Honda Insight reliable?
On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 87% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Honda Insight engine is best?
Across all years, the 1.3 Petrol does best: it beats 88% of cars on UK roads. The 1.3 Hybrid does worst: it beats 85%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Honda Insight?
The most common failure items are sidelights, headlight bulbs & units, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, headlight bulbs & units comes up 1.4× as often.