Toyota Corolla Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Toyota Corolla vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 79% MOT pass rate
  • 2,270 Corollas checked
  • 14.9% of Toyotas had outstanding finance

Toyota Corolla reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Toyota Corolla history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Toyota Corolla car check:

Of the 134 Toyota vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 14.9% had outstanding finance recorded, 11.2% an insurance write-off record and 20.1% a number plate change.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a Corolla by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Toyota Corolla MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 1,753 Toyota Corolla vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 79%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 6,900typical miles a year
  • 4.9%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 20,492MOT tests analysed
  • 2005–2021built (middle half)
  • 50%hybrid electric (clean); 40% petrol; 9% diesel

Toyota Corolla common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Toyota Corolla, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the Corolla's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 15 Toyota Corolla MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively3.0%
  2. Position lamp not working2.1%
  3. Stop lamp not working2.0%
  4. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
  5. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
  6. Headlamp not working on dipped beam1.1%
  7. Headlamp aim too low1.0%
  8. Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.9%
  9. Headlamp aim too high0.8%
  10. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid0.8%
Show all 15
  1. Parking brake efficiency below requirements0.8%
  2. Registration plate lamp not working0.7%
  3. Service brake excessively binding0.7%
  4. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.6%
  5. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.6%

Top 20 Toyota Corolla MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Brake pad wearing thin6.9%
  2. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge5.5%
  3. Tyre worn close to the legal limit5.3%
  4. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.1%
  5. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread3.1%
  6. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing2.6%
  7. Oil leak, but not excessive2.5%
  8. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material2.5%
  9. Coil spring corroded2.2%
  10. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources2.1%
Show all 20
  1. Service brake binding but not excessively1.7%
  2. Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened1.6%
  3. Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output1.3%
  4. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.3%
  5. Brake pipe slightly corroded1.3%
  6. Parking brake lever has little reserve travel1.0%
  7. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases1.0%
  8. Headlamp lens slightly defective0.9%
  9. Brake disc worn, but not excessively0.8%
  10. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened0.8%
  • Lights and indicators: 49% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 28% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 22% of failed tests
  • Tyres: 18% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 10% of failed tests
  • Brakes advisory: 24% of tests
  • Tyres advisory: 22% of tests
  • Corrosion advisory: 15% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 1,753 Toyota Corolla vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since April 2023 (20,492 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Toyota Corolla versions

Every Toyota Corolla version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "Corolla" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
Corolla (no version recorded) 1,096 78% Lights and indicators
Corolla Icon
  • Corolla Icon Tech HEV CVT: 226
  • Corolla Icon HEV CVT: 172
 398 91% Windscreen and wipers
Corolla Design
  • Corolla Design HEV CVT: 93
 93 – –
Corolla Excel
  • Corolla Excel HEV CVT: 85
 85 – –
Corolla GR
  • Corolla GR Sport HEV CVT: 66
 66 – –

Key history checks before buying a used Toyota Corolla

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Toyota on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the Corolla. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Toyota Corolla

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Toyota Corolla car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Toyota Corolla you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a Corolla by reg → See a sample report

Toyota Corolla MOT questions

How do I check a used Toyota Corolla for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 134 Toyota Corolla vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 14.9% had outstanding finance recorded and 11.2% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a Toyota Corolla car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Toyota Corolla are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Toyota Corolla?

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively: found at 3.0% of the Toyota Corolla MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 49% of failed tests.

What is the Toyota Corolla MOT pass rate?

79% of 20,492 MOT tests on 1,753 Toyota Corolla vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Toyota Corolla?

Going by its MOT records, the Toyota Corolla's most common failures are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.0% of tests); position lamp not working (2.1% of tests); stop lamp not working (2.0% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Toyota Corolla?

Brake pad wearing thin: noted at 6.9% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Toyota Corolla typically driven?

About 6,900 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 4.9% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Toyota car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Toyota Corolla