Photo: Ritzel, CC BY 4.0
Honda
C90
3,711 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where C90s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 10.5 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
88.0%
Pass-after-fix
5.3%
Fail
6.4%
Avg miles
19,748
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
C90: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 2,586 MOT tests, the C90 returns 87.6% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is lamp not securely attached. Audible warning not working and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 19,736, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 10–26
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
10–26
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
21 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 02
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
19 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 03
A lamp not securely attached
18 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 04
A lamp missing or inoperative
18 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 05
Audible warning not working
17 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 06
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
14 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 07
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
13 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 08
Projected beam image is obviously incorrect
12 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 09
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
10 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 10
A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
9 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£70–£175
If every one of this C90's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Draper
Draper Drain Plug Key, 3/8 Square x 3/8 Sq. Dr.
£15.39
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Honda Nighthawk Black Pearlescent Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Honda Milano Red Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Honda Satin Silver Metallic Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Buying or keeping a C90?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a C90 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.