2012 Honda Civic 1.8L Petrol · FE12 KPL

The official DVSA MOT record for this 2012 Honda Civic indicates a pass on the most recent test dated 12 March 2025 at 79,833 miles, with no advisories or defects recorded. This follows a sequence of four consecutive passes between March 2022 and March 2025, establishing a stable, unbroken roadworthiness pattern. The only anomaly in the file is a simultaneous failure entry logged on 12 March 2025, identical in date to the pass, which typically represents an immediate retest after a defect was rectified on the same day. While the end result is a valid pass, buyers should request sight of the original failure notice to confirm what was repaired, as no defect details were captured in this record. Mileage progression across the documented tests is extremely modest for a 14-year-old vehicle. The accumulated distance between the March 2022 test and the March 2025 retest represents only a small annual increase, suggesting either genuine low usage or extended periods of standing. Low annual mileage of this kind reduces wear on internal drivetrain components but can conversely accelerate corrosion in brake discs, calipers, suspension bushes, and underbody metal through lack of regular operation. The annual mileage of roughly 5,702 miles is well below the typical average, so any assumptions about component longevity should be tempered by the possibility of seized or degraded rubber and metal-on-metal contact surfaces. Given the absence of recorded advisories, there is no direct evidence from the MOT history pointing to specific recurring faults in suspension, braking, or structural areas. A physical inspection must therefore fill the gap. Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the rear brake calipers and handbrake mechanism, which on low-mileage Civics of this generation commonly suffer from binding due to corrosion on the sliding pins and cables. The exhaust system, underbody floor pans, rear wheel arches, and suspension coil springs should be examined closely for surface or structural corrosion, especially around jacking points and mounting brackets, as these areas are not always flagged during standard MOT testing. Tyres should be checked for age-related sidewall cracking even if tread depth remains legal, and the brake fluid should be sampled to verify moisture content, since fluid degradation is a common oversight on infrequently driven cars. Overall, the recorded MOT history shows a consistently roadworthy vehicle over the past four years with no mechanical red flags documented. The lack of advisory data means a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified technician remains essential, particularly to assess corrosion, brake function, and rubber components that suffer from standing rather than active wear. Buying score: 78, Risk level: Low.