Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze?

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 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze?

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 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze?

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.

How many 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,418 vehicles, the 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze?

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.

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London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze (1998)

1,418 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.7% first-time pass rate

1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze

CarHunch analysed 1,418 real MOT records for the 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 TX1 Bronze's 60.9% first-time pass rate sits well below the UK average of 80%, signalling genuine reliability concerns for a vehicle now in its mid-20s. One in five of these taxis have recorded dangerous defects during MOT testing, which is a material buyer concern and considerably higher than typical.

These cabs are clocking up serious mileage — the median sits at nearly 296,000 miles — yet they're still averaging nearly three failures and six advisories per test, suggesting wear-related problems are routine rather than occasional. If you're considering one, budget for regular maintenance and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, suspension, and exhaust systems, as these are the typical failure points on high-mileage commercial vehicles of this age.

The 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze has a below-average first-time pass rate (68.7% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

68.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

21.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.91

Over 8.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

296k

Middle half: 200k–381k

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 6.6 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 1,418 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 1,418 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze cars.

Before you buy a 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze

Based on MOT data from 1,418 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.6% 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 (100%)	1,411	68.7%	2.91

Colour Breakdown

Based on 6,729 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 61.9%

4,168

Blue 8.8%

595

Green 6.5%

438

Red 5.2%

352

White 4.3%

290

Multi-colour 4%

266

Grey 3.3%

220

Yellow 2.3%

157

Silver 1.6%

107

Maroon 1.4%

Gold 0.3%

Purple 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze 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.

295,509

typical

200,299

low mileage

380,855

high mileage

Half of all 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze vehicles fall between 200,299 and 380,855 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 200,299 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.

✓ 200,299–380,855 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronzes sit.

⚠ Over 514,154 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronzes are still active.

Numbers are declining — 27 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2020 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2020.
* 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

8.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.91

Avg failures per vehicle

6.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze: All Tx1 Bronze years → Which year to buy? →

1997 1999 2000 2001 2002

Or browse all models: London Taxis Int →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Bronze stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on