2011 Honda Insight MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 67.3% of Honda Insights first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. Across 5,134 Insight first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and tyres.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Honda Insights first used in 2011 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
67.3%
of 1,663 first tests; all cars first used in 2011: 61.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
5,134
first tests, 2023–2025; 1,663 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
29.0%
of 1,663 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
119,500
middle half: 79,500–175,500 miles; all cars first used in 2011: 98,000

How the 2011 Honda Insight MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Insights first used in 2011 against all cars first used in 2011 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Insight figure was 6.1 points higher.

2011 InsightAll cars first used in 2011
60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2011, test year 2021: 65.8%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2022: 64.5%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2023: 63%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2024: 61.8%All cars first used in 2011, test year 2025: 61.2%2011 Insight, test year 2021: 74.7%2011 Insight, test year 2022: 73.3%2011 Insight, test year 2023: 70.7%2011 Insight, test year 2024: 71.1%2011 Insight, test year 2025: 67.3%67.3%61.2%
View this chart as a table
Test year2011 InsightAll cars first used 2011Insight first tests
202174.7%65.8%2,103
202273.3%64.5%1,826
202370.7%63.0%1,768
202471.1%61.8%1,703
202567.3%61.2%1,663

Common 2011 Honda Insight MOT failures

Share of the 1,555 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment56.7%
Suspension22.1%
Tyres20.0%
Brakes19.1%
Visibility17.9%
Body, chassis, structure6.3%
Steering5.2%
Road Wheels3.5%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Position lamp: not working20.4%317
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively11.4%177
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam10.4%162
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.5%117
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm7.0%109

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2011 Honda Insight before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.

Common 2011 Honda Insight MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2011 Insights, as a share of all 5,134 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge14.1%723
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened11.6%598
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing9.5%490
Brake pads: wearing thin9.4%484
Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output7.6%388

Questions about the 2011 Honda Insight MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2011 Honda Insight?

In 2025, 67.3% of Insights first used in 2011 passed their MOT first time, against 61.2% for all cars first used in 2011. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2011 Insight most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 56.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (22.1%) and tyres (20.0%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (20.4%).

How often does a 2011 Honda Insight fail its MOT?

In 2025, 32.7% of first tests on Insights first used in 2011 did not pass first time: 21.5% failed, and a further 11.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,555 of 5,134 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2011 Honda Insight MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 14.1% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (11.6%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (9.5%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (9.4%) and “Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output” (7.6%).

Is a 2011 Honda Insight reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 74.7% in 2021 to 67.3% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2011

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2011 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2011 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2011 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2011 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2011 Honda Insight MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2011 Insight” means a Honda Insight whose date of first use falls in 2011 (60, 11 and 61 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2011, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.