2013 Toyota Prius 1.8L Hybrid electric · GU13 VBB

Official fuel economy for the 1798cc Prius is around 70 mpg in combined driving, though real-world figures at this mileage may be slightly lower if the hybrid battery has degraded. Road tax (VED) for a hybrid of this age registered before April 2017 costs £155 per year as it falls into a higher post-2025 band; confirm the current band at point of purchase. Insurance sits in group 13-14 typically, so premiums should be moderate.

Estimated annual running cost: £900-£1,200. This assumes average mileage of around 8,000-10,000 miles per year given the car's age, covering fuel (around £600-£800 depending on usage), tax, insurance and routine maintenance such as tyres, brake pads and fluid changes. At this mileage, a major service including coolant and transmission fluid could be due, potentially adding £200-£400.

Inspect the lighting system thoroughly — the February 2026 failure cited three separate lamp issues (nearside front position lamp, offside front position lamp, and nearside side repeater), which is unusual to see together and could indicate wiring or earth-point corrosion, particularly common on a 13-year-old vehicle. Check all bulbs, connectors and the condition of the headlamp and tail lamp seals for water ingress. Also verify the parking brake adjustment is correct, as this was flagged for excessive movement on the same test.

Examine the tyres carefully — the 2024 test recorded a nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit and worn on edge, which can suggest rear suspension or alignment issues. Uneven edge wear often points to worn rear bushes or trailing arms, a known issue on Gen 3 Prius models. Check the registration plate condition too, as it was flagged as deteriorated in 2024. Finally, on the model more broadly, the top MOT failure reasons across 139,749 analysed Prius examples are headlamp issues, road wheel fixing problems and anti-roll bar wear, so pay particular attention to headlamp alignment and condition, ensure all wheel bolts are present and torqued correctly, and listen for anti-roll bar knocking over bumps during a test drive.