Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Renault Twizy?

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 2012 Renault Twizy?

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 2012 Renault Twizy?

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 2012 Renault Twizy vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

27% 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 2012 Renault Twizy reliable?

Based on MOT data from 257 vehicles, the 2012 Renault Twizy has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Renault Twizy?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Renault Twizy are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (7.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (6.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (3.9% 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 2012 Renault Twizy?

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 Twizy (2012)

257 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.1% first-time pass rate

2012 Renault Twizy

CarHunch analysed 257 real MOT records for the 2012 Renault Twizy. 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 Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Renault Twizy passes its MOT at 82.1%, slightly above the UK average of 80%, which is respectable—but nearly 27% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, a figure worth taking seriously before purchase. Electric propulsion means no engine wear concerns, and that consistency shows across the single-fuel cohort.

At just 7,403 miles median mileage, these Twizys have genuinely low wear for their age, yet they still average 1.65 failures and 7.4 advisories per test, suggesting electrical systems and trim components are the real weak points rather than mechanical ones. If you're considering a used Twizy, insist on a pre-purchase inspection focused on battery health, wiring, and any history of that dangerous defect category—don't rely on MOT pass rate alone to seal the deal.

We have limited data for the 2012 Renault Twizy — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

82.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

26.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.65

Over 8.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

Middle half: 4k–13k

For context

These stats describe 257 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 257 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 7.4%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively · …

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

Tyre wear 6.1%

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 worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Suspension & steering 2.2%

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 257 Renault Twizy cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Renault Twizy

Based on MOT data from 257 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 26.9% 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
Electric (100%)	256	82.2%	1.64

Colour Breakdown

Based on 687 Renault Twizy vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 40.3%

277

Black 38.1%

262

Orange 8.4%

Grey 6.1%

Blue 3.3%

Green 1.5%

Red 1.2%

Multi-colour 1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Renault Twizy 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.

7,403

typical

4,218

low mileage

12,986

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Renault Twizy vehicles fall between 4,218 and 12,986 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 4,218 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.

✓ 4,218–12,986 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Renault Twizys sit.

⚠ Over 17,531 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Renault Twizy — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Renault Twizys are still being driven.

140 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 76% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

8.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.65

Avg failures per vehicle

7.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2013

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Renault Twizy stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing