2016 Toyota Yaris 1.3L Petrol · DH65 CFZ

A 2016 Toyota Yaris with eight recorded MOT tests behind it, the most recent being a pass on 2 September 2025 with no advisories or defects recorded, presents a roadworthiness profile that is essentially unbroken by failure or significant concern. Across the documented testing history from January 2019 through to September 2025 the vehicle has passed every annual assessment at the first attempt, and only one advisory note has ever been raised. The overall trend is one of consistent compliance with the MOT standards at every successive test, with no pattern of recurring component deterioration, no corrosion advisories on structural members, and no advisory flags relating to tyres, suspension bushes, exhaust integrity, lighting, or visibility. This is a notably sparse advisory record for a ten-year-old vehicle and the absence of any progressive deterioration across successive tests is the defining mechanical story here. The recorded mileage of 19,520 miles against an age of roughly ten years equates to an annual accumulation of approximately 1,952 miles, which is considerably below the average for a vehicle of this age and segment. Testing frequency has been broadly consistent year on year, with no extended gaps that would suggest the car has been laid up off the road for any prolonged period, and the mileage profile aligns with light rather than moderate or heavy use. Mechanically, this lighter usage pattern typically translates to extended life from wear items such as brake pads, discs, clutch friction material, and tyres, while components less influenced by mileage such as rubber boots, suspension bushes, brake fluid, and the 12V battery will still have aged with calendar time. The single advisory note on the 2020 test relating to rear brake imbalance suggests that even with very low mileage the rear brake mechanism may be developing uneven operation or sticking, a condition worth scrutinising on a physical inspection. For a prospective buyer, the priority mechanical checks should focus on the area flagged in the 2020 advisory, namely the rear braking system. On a test drive, listen for any scraping or grinding from the rear wheels when the brakes are released, feel for the car pulling to one side under moderate braking, and check at low speed whether the rear calipers are binding by noting whether the vehicle feels reluctant to roll freely when the handbrake is let off on level ground. Given the very low recorded mileage, the brake discs themselves may show light surface corrosion consistent with limited use, but the friction material should still have substantial thickness remaining. It is also worth inspecting the rear brake shoes and the handbrake mechanism, as these are the components most likely to seize or imbalance on a lightly used vehicle. Beyond the braking system, a thorough physical inspection should pay attention to the areas that age with calendar time rather than mileage. With no recorded advisories on suspension components, the coil springs, shock absorbers, and anti-roll bar linkages should be checked visually for any surface rust or perished bushes, particularly as the vehicle approaches its eleventh year. The exhaust system, including the centre and rear sections and the rubber mountings, should be examined for corrosion given the age of the car, and the underside should be inspected for any oil misting from the engine or gearbox that has not yet been formally recorded. A road test over uneven surfaces should be carried out to listen for any knocking from the front suspension, any clunks from the driveshafts on full lock, and to verify that the steering remains centred with no pulling to either side. With the documented MOT history being so sparse in flagged defects, the buyer should treat any unusual symptoms discovered during this physical and dynamic inspection with appropriate caution, as the test record alone provides limited insight into component condition that has degraded purely through age rather than use.