Lexus
Is250
18,414 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where Is250s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 2.3 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
79.8%
Pass-after-fix
4.9%
Fail
14.7%
Avg miles
101,137
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
Lexus Is250: mixed MOT record across 11,785 tests
The Lexus Is250 is a petrol-powered car sold in the UK market across multiple generations, covering a broad date range in the test population.
MOT data from 11,785 tests puts this car on a 77.6% first-time pass rate, roughly in line with the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 98,997 miles. The most common fail item is headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective, followed by cracked or discoloured windscreen.
Buyers weighing up a used Is250 should treat the failure breakdown as a pre-purchase checklist. The pass rate is reasonable, but the gap between first attempt and a clean sheet narrows with age and mileage.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 20–44
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. 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 →
20–44
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
848 occurrences · 4.6% of tests
- 02
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
418 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
384 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 04
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
360 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 05
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
313 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 06
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
300 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
- 07
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
235 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 08
Reflector defective or damaged by up to 50% of the reflecting surface
214 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade defective
205 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 10
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
189 occurrences · 1.0% 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 3 failures
£80–£255
If every one of this Is250'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
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · 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
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Motor World
Motor World Lexus IS200 Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Lexus IS300 2005- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Lexus IS250/220 Man/Auto 2006- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
View at My Motor World →
Motor World
Motor World Lexus GS450H Saloon 2005- Car Floor Mat Set
£32.99
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 an Is250?
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 an Is250 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.