Carbodies Taxi/hire Car (1990)

2,479 real MOT outcomes analysed • 6.4% first-time pass rate

1990 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car

CarHunch analysed 2,479 real MOT records for the 1990 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

These 1990 Carbodies taxis are in dire condition, with a 6.4% first-time pass rate that sits catastrophically below the 80% UK average—meaning 93.6% of these vehicles fail their MOT on the first attempt. Only 0.9% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is unusually low and suggests that while these cabs are worn, they're not actively hazardous in the way newer neglected cars might be.

At 205,106 miles on average, these vehicles have been worked hard as commercial stock and accumulated genuine mileage for their age, yet the low failure count (0.09 per vehicle) and advisory rate (0.2 per vehicle) indicate the issues are often minor—trim, lighting, corrosion—rather than mechanical catastrophe. If you're considering one, treat it as a project requiring immediate remedial work post-purchase; the low pass rate reflects decades of heavy use, not fundamental design flaws.

Below average reliability 73.6% below UK average
6.4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
198,021
typical mileage
100,090–299,999 middle half
0.9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.09
avg MOT failures per car
over 1.2 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1990 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Carbodies Taxi/hire Car

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (99%) 2,463 6.4% 0.09
Petrol (0%) 9 20% 0.11
LPG (0%) 4 12.5% 0.25
Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) 2 0% 0
Gas (0%) 1 0% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1990 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

100,090
low mileage
198,021
typical
299,999
high mileage

Half of all 1990 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car vehicles fall between 100,090 and 299,999 miles.

1990 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 13 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2019, 87% of the peak.

15 13 2014 2019

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2019.

MOT History Averages

1.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.09
Avg failures per vehicle
0.2
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Carbodies Taxi/hire Car?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Carbodies Taxi/hire Car:

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997