Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Renault Clio?

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 2013 Renault Clio?

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 2013 Renault Clio?

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 2013 Renault Clio vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

50% 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 2013 Renault Clio reliable?

Based on MOT data from 21,972 vehicles, the 2013 Renault Clio has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Renault Clio?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Renault Clio are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (61.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (61.5% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (49.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Renault Clio?

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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Renault Clio (2013)

21,972 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.4% first-time pass rate

2013 Renault Clio

CarHunch analysed 21,972 real MOT records for the 2013 Renault Clio. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Renault Clio falls short of the UK average with a 76.4% first-time pass rate against the national 80%, and half of these vehicles have experienced a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for a used buyer. Petrol versions perform slightly better at 77% versus diesels at 74.8%, but neither fuel type inspires confidence.

At around 50,500 miles median, these Clios are reasonably low-mileage for their age, yet they're generating an average of 3.21 failures per test and a notable 16.5 advisories per vehicle, suggesting component wear is catching up. Before buying, prioritise a pre-purchase inspection focused on brakes, suspension, and exhaust systems—the most common failure categories for this generation.

The 2013 Renault Clio has a decent first-time pass rate (76.4%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

76.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

50.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.21

Over 12.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

51k

Middle half: 39k–63k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.5 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 21,972 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 21,972 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 61.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 49.9%

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 25.4%

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn · Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 19.5%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 21,972 Renault Clio cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

77%

Petrol

16,238 vehicles

74.8%

Diesel

5,729 vehicles

Before you buy a 2013 Renault Clio

Based on MOT data from 21,972 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 50.3% 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
Petrol (74%)	16,238	77%	3.13
Diesel (26%)	5,729	74.8%	3.44

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,127,460 Renault Clio vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.8%

279,273

Black 19.1%

215,121

Red 17%

191,565

Silver 16.4%

185,166

White 8.2%

92,735

Grey 7%

79,144

Green 5.2%

58,597

Yellow 1.1%

12,736

Beige 0.5%

5,266

Orange 0.5%

5,093

Gold 0.1%

1,649

Cream 0.1%

1,115

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Renault Clio 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.

50,508

typical

39,317

low mileage

62,716

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Renault Clio vehicles fall between 39,317 and 62,716 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 39,317 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.

✓ 39,317–62,716 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Renault Clios sit.

⚠ Over 84,666 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Renault Clio — Still on the Road

Almost all 2013 Renault Clios are still on the road.

Strong survival — 18,859 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 90% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

12.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.21

Avg failures per vehicle

16.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault Clio: All Clio years → Which year to buy? →

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Renault Clio stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing