Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,799 vehicles, the 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Carbodies Taxi/hire Car (1997)

1,799 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.3% first-time pass rate

1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car

CarHunch analysed 1,799 real MOT records for the 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1997 Carbodies Taxi is a significantly weaker performer than the UK average, with only 40.4% passing first time against the 80% national benchmark—this is a red flag for reliability. While the dangerous defect rate of 10.2% is moderate, these vehicles are genuinely high-mileage examples (median 313,362 miles), which explains much of the struggle.

Expect roughly 1.3 failures and 4 advisories per test, reflecting the wear typical of hard-worked ex-hackney cabs. If you're considering one, budget for immediate remedial work and factor in potentially frequent MOT visits—these aren't vehicles to buy hoping they'll pass first time.

The 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car has a below-average first-time pass rate (70.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

70.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

10.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.3

Over 4.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

313k

Middle half: 232k–376k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,799 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,799 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car

Based on MOT data from 1,799 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	1,780	70.2%	1.3

Colour Breakdown

Based on 28,965 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 68.3%

19,779

Blue 10.9%

3,147

Red 7%

2,020

Maroon 6.5%

1,876

Green 2.6%

754

White 1.7%

494

Grey 1.6%

468

Yellow 0.7%

208

Multi-colour 0.3%

Cream 0.2%

Brown 0.2%

Pink 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

313,362

typical

231,694

low mileage

375,677

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car vehicles fall between 231,694 and 375,677 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 231,694 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 231,694–375,677 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Cars sit.

⚠ Over 507,163 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Cars are still active.

Numbers are declining — 53 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

4.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.3

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Carbodies Taxi/hire Car: All Taxi/hire Car years → Which year to buy? →

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Or browse all models: Carbodies →

Compare with another model

See how the 1997 Carbodies Taxi/hire Car stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on