2013 Toyota Yaris 1.5L Hybrid electric · LR13 GZN

The most recent MOT record, dated 25 February 2026 at 61,438 miles, shows a pass, but the outcome is qualified by a recurring child-seat obstruction that has prevented a full inspection of the nearside rear adult belt for at least two consecutive tests. The day before, at 61,437 miles, the car failed on a cut offside front tyre exposing ply or cords, a perished anti-roll bar linkage dust cover, and a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit. That the tester rectified the tyres and linkage cover overnight suggests these were consumable items rather than deep mechanical failures, yet the pattern of presenting a car with a cut tyre and a binding or worn front tyre on the day before a pass raises questions about the standard of pre-test preparation. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but inconsistent, with minor defects cropping up annually rather than being proactively resolved. The mileage progression tells a story of very light use. Between 2013 and 2023 the car covered roughly 50,500 miles, averaging about 5,000 miles per year. From the February 2023 test at 50,549 miles to the January 2025 test at 58,138 miles, it added 7,589 miles in nearly two years, a modest uptick to around 4,000 miles annually. The jump from 58,138 in January 2025 to 61,438 in February 2026 accounts for 3,300 miles in thirteen months, confirming continued low-mileage use. There are no glaring gaps in the record, and the mileage progression is plausible, but the car has spent long periods stationary. Prolonged sitting can cause flat-spotted tyres, seized brake calipers, dried-out rubber bushes, and localised corrosion on brake discs and exhaust components, none of which the MOT alone can fully reveal. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and brake components. The February 2026 failure flagged a deteriorated anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover on the offside front, meaning the joint itself may have been exposed to road grit and moisture. Check for play in the front drop links and inspect the lower wishbone bushes and front coil springs for cracking or sag. The nearside front tyre worn on the edge points to possible tracking misalignment or a worn suspension bush allowing toe drift. Have the front brake discs and pads measured; the rear inner pads were noted as wearing thin in February 2023 at 50,549 miles, and if the car has only done 10,900 miles since, the rears may still be original and unevenly worn. The nearside rear seat belt has been obstructed by a child seat in both the 2025 and 2026 tests, so no tester has properly checked the belt's retraction, webbing condition, or buckle function in at least two years. Remove the child seat and test the belt under load. Look underneath the car for corrosion along the sills, subframes, and around the suspension mounting points, as low-mileage cars that stand for weeks often develop surface rust that can compromise structural integrity if left untreated. The exhaust system and lambda sensors also deserve attention, since short trips and infrequent use can lead to condensation build-up and premature exhaust corrosion, which may not trigger an immediate emissions failure but will reduce component life.