Used car guide

2013 Toyota Proace: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Toyota Proaces, from 206 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 206 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

206MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
9,500typical miles a year
8.2×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Toyota Proaces than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints8.2× usual
    Toyota Proace
    27.2% All 2013 cars
    3.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 15.5%, against 1.7% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Number plate lights2.9× usual
    Toyota Proace
    17.5% All 2013 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 1.8% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Exhaust system3.3× usual
    Toyota Proace
    15% All 2013 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.4%, against 1.2% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Engine oil leaks2.5× usual
    Toyota Proace
    14.6% All 2013 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

By area

The share of 2013 Toyota Proace MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    41% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    30% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    28% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Suspension
    28% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    25% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Toyota Proace?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023177Tyres 15%
20223,715Tyres 24%
20212,645Tyres 23%
20201,714Tyres 26%
20191,828Tyres 23%
20181,963Lights and electrics 26%
20171,572Lights and electrics 30%
2016567Lights and electrics 36%
20151,045Lights and electrics 43%
2014765Lights and electrics 42%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2013 Toyota Proaces registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score