2020 Skoda Kamiq SE L TSI S-A 1.0L Petrol · SC69 XMO

The vehicle presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, with the most recent MOT on 30 January 2026 at 23,330 miles returning a completely clean pass with zero defects. That is a notable shift from the 2021 test, where the tester flagged rear brake pads wearing thin on both sides. The defect was resolved before the 2024 test, and no further braking issues have appeared since. The January 2026 pass is current, sitting just under five months old today, which gives reasonable confidence in the car's present mechanical condition. The mileage pattern tells an unusual story for a six-year-old car. Annual use sits at roughly 3,888 miles, well below the UK average of around 8,000 to 12,000. The jump from 10,573 miles in February 2023 to 13,756 miles in January 2024 represents about 3,183 miles in eleven months, then a further 5,848 miles appeared between January 2024 and January 2025. That acceleration suggests either a change in ownership or a shift from short urban trips to longer commutes. The plateau between January 2025 and January 2026, with only 3,726 miles added, indicates the car has settled back into light use. Low annual mileage can mean reduced mechanical wear, but extended periods of inactivity carry their own risks, particularly with brake corrosion, tyre flat-spotting, and fuel system condensation. The sole recorded defect, rear brake pads wearing thin, points to a consumable item being caught at an appropriate interval rather than a chronic fault. Still, a buyer should physically inspect the rear brake discs for scoring or lipping, check the caliper slides for free movement, and verify that the handbrake mechanism is not binding, since low-mileage cars often suffer from brakes seizing due to underuse rather than wear. The front brakes deserve equal attention, as they carry the majority of stopping effort and have never been flagged on any test. Suspension components, particularly the front lower arms and rear trailing arm bushes, should be checked for perishing, as short trips and speed bumps in urban driving can degrade rubber components faster than steady motorway miles. The exhaust system and catalytic converter merit a visual inspection from underneath, as low annual mileage can cause moisture to accumulate inside the exhaust, accelerating internal corrosion. Tyre condition across all four corners, including the sidewalls for cracking from age rather than tread depth, deserves close scrutiny given the likelihood of long stationary periods. The vehicle has never failed an MOT, and the clean recent record is encouraging, but a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified technician remains the only reliable way to confirm structural integrity and mechanical health beyond what a periodic test can reveal.