Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

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 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

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 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

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 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,446 vehicles, the 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo are: Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (28.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (28.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (27.2% 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 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo?

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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Smart (mcc) Fortwo (2018)

3,446 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.2% first-time pass rate

2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo

CarHunch analysed 3,446 real MOT records for the 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo. 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Smart ForTwo passes its MOT first time at 89.2%, significantly above the UK average of 80%, making it a notably reliable choice in its class. However, nearly one in five vehicles (19.2%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a concern worth factoring into your purchase decision—electric variants perform better overall at 93.1% pass rate versus petrol's 88.9%.

At a median mileage of just 21,833 miles for a six-year-old car, these ForTwos are relatively lightly used, which partly explains the strong pass rate. The average vehicle racks up 0.7 failures and 4.1 advisories per test, suggesting electrical and minor wear items are the main culprits rather than structural problems—get a pre-purchase inspection focused on electrics and battery condition if you're buying one used.

The 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (89.2%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

89.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

19.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.7

Over 5.6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

22k

Middle half: 14k–32k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.2% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.1 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 3,446 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,446 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 28.9%

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside 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.

Brake wear 26.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Other issues 14.1%

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,446 Smart (mcc) Fortwo cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo

Based on MOT data from 3,446 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.2% 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
Petrol (92%)	3,174	88.9%	0.73
Electric (8%)	272	93.1%	0.42

Colour Breakdown

Based on 23,991 Smart (mcc) Fortwo vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 41.4%

9,943

White 26.2%

6,278

Silver 10.5%

2,518

Grey 5.5%

1,315

Red 4.9%

1,164

Blue 4.8%

1,148

Orange 4.4%

1,053

Yellow 1.5%

354

Green 0.4%

103

Brown 0.4%

Pink 0%

Multi-colour 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo 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.

21,833

typical

13,941

low mileage

32,117

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo vehicles fall between 13,941 and 32,117 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 13,941 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.

✓ 13,941–32,117 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwos sit.

⚠ Over 43,357 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwos are still on the road.

Strong survival — 3,258 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.7

Avg failures per vehicle

4.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart (mcc) Fortwo: All Fortwo years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Smart (mcc) Fortwo stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?