2013 Toyota Prius 1.8L Hybrid electric (clean) · LS13 EWZ

A clean MOT ledger with no advisories over five tests spanning 2023 to early 2026 points to a vehicle that has held its roadworthy condition well, although the unusually sparse defect recording for a 265,000-mile Toyota Prius is itself a point worth weighing. The most recent test on 26 February 2026 was a pass with no defects recorded, following immediately after a failure on 25 February 2026 that also lists no defects against the entry, which is unusual and may indicate an administrative refusal or a test aborted before inspection rather than a substantive mechanical rejection. The prior pair of tests on 7 May 2024 followed the same pattern, with a failure followed by an immediate pass on the same day, again with no defects recorded. None of the entries from 2023 or 2024 carry advisories, which for a high-mileage hybrid is a noticeably light paper trail and should prompt a buyer to verify that the advisory sections of the MOT test certificates have been fully transcribed. Against an age of approximately thirteen years, the recorded 265,838 miles equates to roughly 20,449 miles per year, which is well above the average accumulation rate and suggests the car has seen sustained, long-distance use rather than the stop-start urban driving more typical of a Prius. The most recent MOT gap is small, with the February 2026 tests following the May 2024 entries by less than two years, but there is a notable earlier gap of nearly a year between the May 2023 pass and the May 2024 tests, which may reflect a period off the road or a delayed test. Such high annual mileage on a third-generation Prius will accelerate wear on the engine and hybrid system mountings, the inverter coolant pump, the EGR and intake manifold, and the rear suspension trailing arm bushes that are known to fail on this chassis well before 200,000 miles. The traction battery, while generally durable, will also have endured a very high cycle count and warrants specific attention. For a test drive, focus on the symptoms that match this mileage and chassis. Listen for any knocking or clonking from the rear axle over speed humps and uneven surfaces, particularly clunks that accompany acceleration or braking, as the rear trailing arm bushes and the rear hub carriers are prone to cracking and splitting. Feel for vagueness or wandering through the steering on the motorway, which can indicate worn front lower arm bushes or failing electric power steering brushes, and check for uneven rear tyre wear as a tell-tale of the rear geometry being pulled off by compliant bushes. On start-up, watch the hybrid system energy display; a brief period of the engine running at high revs to warm up is normal, but persistent inability to drive in electric-only mode at low speeds, a recurring warning triangle, or a flashing hybrid system light would point to inverter coolant pump or traction battery degradation. A short standstill test where you hold the brake in Drive and Reverse should produce no juddering or clunks from the transmission area, and the gear selector should move cleanly without hesitation. A final physical inspection before purchase should include raising the vehicle to look for oil staining around the engine block and the inverter cover, as these units are known to seep at high mileage, and checking the underside for corrosion on the rear suspension subframe mounting points and around the fuel tank area, which are common salt-collecting zones on cars of this age. Examine the brake discs for lipping and the pads for material depth, as 265,000 miles implies multiple replacements already. Confirm the condition of the 12V auxiliary battery in the boot, as a marginal unit will cause erratic hybrid system warnings and dashboard behaviour, and finally check the service book for evidence of timely transmission fluid and inverter coolant changes, as these are critical to long-term hybrid durability on a Prius that has covered this kind of distance.