London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver (1998)

893 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.8% first-time pass rate

1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver

CarHunch analysed 893 real MOT records for the 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The TX1's first-time MOT pass rate of 68.8% trails the UK average of 80%, signalling these iconic hackney cabs are ageing tough—though at least 15.2% of the fleet has seen dangerous defects, so structural and safety wear is a genuine buyer concern. These are well-used machines, with a median mileage of 293,332 miles typical for their age, and they average 2.25 failures per MOT, meaning repairs are routine rather than occasional.

The real story lies in the advisory count: 7.3 per vehicle is high, reflecting the cumulative wear you'd expect from London's stop-start taxi duty. If you're considering one, budget for active maintenance and get a pre-purchase inspection focused on brakes, suspension geometry, and the diesel engine's fuel injection system—these are where the TX1 consistently shows its miles.

Below average reliability 11.2% below UK average
68.8%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
293,332
typical mileage
195,545–370,394 middle half
15.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.25
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver

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 London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver

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

CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (99%) 888 68.8% 2.25
Petrol (0%) 3 77.3% 1.33
LPG (0%) 2 80.3% 3

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver 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.

195,545
low mileage
293,332
typical
370,394
high mileage

Half of all 1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver vehicles fall between 195,545 and 370,394 miles.

1998 London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 28 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (5% of peak).

510 28 2014 2021

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.

MOT History Averages

6.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.25
Avg failures per vehicle
7.3
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver?

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

UK

Other model years — London Taxis Int Tx1 Silver:

1999 2000 2001 2002