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Purchase reportFord Focus
Report created on 02/10/2026
United Kingdom · 4 sources
Report created on 02/10/2026
·United Kingdom · 4 sources
UK
License plate FZ18 TWV
2018 · Petrol
Key facts
Inspection valid until
02/07/2027 · 9 months left
Mileage verdict
Consistent
Year
2018
First registered 20/05/2018
Fuel and power
Petrol
Overview
Final advice
Strong candidate
This car scores well on almost every point. A great candidate to look into further.
Purchase score 76 out of 100
The breakdown is further down in this overview.
Purchase score 76 out of 100
·The breakdown is further down in this overview.
The amounts at a glance
Asking price£8,950≈ comparable to your own listings
What matters with this car and this model, how to check it yourself, and what it might cost.
Risk signals
One point that follows from this car's data.
Needs attention
Advisories at multiple inspections (not failures)
Only advisories were noted at the inspections for this car. An advisory is a remark from the inspector, not a failure. Examples, taken literally and untranslated from the source: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit; Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit; Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slight misalignment.
Ask the seller
Have these advisories been fixed by now?
Check yourself
Check the parts named yourself at the viewing, for example tyre tread or brake components.
Part 3 of 6
Price and costs
What the car is worth, what you offer, and what it costs afterwards.
Negotiation advice
Room to negotiate
£1,074
Between the asking price and your opening offer.
Asking price£8,950
from the listing
Opening offer£7,876
you start here
Desired price£8,528
this is your target
Part 4 of 6
History
Inspections and mileage from the register.
Inspection history
Official data (DVSA MOT History)
These defects were found at earlier inspections of this car. So they are not general model problems. They may already have been repaired: ask the seller for the invoices. The texts below come literally from the register and are not translated.
Inspection valid until
02/07/2027 · 9 months left
Mileage verdict
Consistent
Defect found
02/07/2025Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit
Part 5 of 6
Checks
What to ask the seller and what to check at the viewing.
Questions for the seller
The most important ones first. Uncheck what you don't want to share.
11 selected
Priority High · Technical
Has the coolant level ever dropped unusually fast, or has the engine ever overheated?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: The seller gives an evasive answer: "I don't know" or "I never looked at that". Then pay extra attention to this point.
Why you ask this
This relates to a known point to watch for this model: Coolant leak (cooling system/cylinder head).
Priority High · Maintenance
Is the full maintenance logbook available, and may I see it?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: "I've lost it" or "it's not included" without further explanation.
Why you ask this
The maintenance logbook shows whether the car has been serviced on time.
Priority High · Damage
Has the car ever been damaged, and if so, was it professionally repaired?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: "No, never had any damage", without papers that show it.
Why you ask this
Earlier damage can lower the safety and the value of the car. That is especially true if the repair was not done properly.
Priority Medium · Ownership
Why are you selling the car?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: A vague or evasive answer without a clear reason.
Why you ask this
The reason for selling often gives an honest picture. It tells you whether there are problems.
Priority Medium · Maintenance
When was the car last inspected, and were there any points to watch?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: The seller cannot say anything clear about the last inspection.
Why you ask this
The points from the last inspection say something about the car's condition now.
Priority Medium · Maintenance
When were the tyres last replaced? Are all four the same make and type?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: The seller gives an evasive answer: "I don't know" or "I never looked at that". Then look at this point extra closely.
Why you ask this
This is the most common failure category for this model. It covers cars that came on the road in the same year. That applies at age 7 years, in the 2025 British MOT figures. It is about 28.6% of the categorised defects. Within that category it most often concerned "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements". That is the exact wording used in the British MOT test.
Priority Medium · Technical
Are any warning lights on, or are there lamps that fail intermittently?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: The seller gives an evasive answer: "I don't know" or "I never looked at that". Then look at this point extra closely.
Why you ask this
This is the most common failure category for this model. It covers cars that came on the road in the same year. That applies at age 7 years, in the 2025 British MOT figures. It is about 28.3% of the categorised defects. Within that category it most often concerned "The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements". That is the exact wording used in the British MOT test.
Priority Medium · Technical
Has the car ever failed or been modified on emissions? Think of the particulate filter, the EGR or the catalytic converter.
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: The seller gives an evasive answer: "I don't know" or "I never looked at that". Then look at this point extra closely.
Why you ask this
This is one of the most often recorded failure defects (severity B/C) in the Czech STK figures. It covers this model from the same registration year. That is 10.8% of all 167 counted defects of this severity for this group in this year. Nuisance: within that category it most often concerned "Plynné emise zážehových motorů překračují hodnoty stanovené výrobcem.". That is the literal wording from the Czech inspection, untranslated.
Priority Medium · Technical
Is there damage to the windscreen or mirrors, and has anything ever been replaced?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: The seller gives an evasive answer: "I don't know" or "I never looked at that". Then look at this point extra closely.
Why you ask this
This is the most often recorded severity-A item in the Czech STK figures. It covers this model from the same registration year. That is 29.2% of all 250 counted defects of this severity for this group in this year. Severity A is not a failure. The car passed the test, but the inspector saw this as a point to watch. Visibility: within that category it most often concerned "Poškození zasklení (praskliny, neprůhledné nebo poškrábané sklo) o velikosti nejvíce 1/3 výšky průhledné části zasklení, které se nachází v poli výhledu řidiče směrem dopředu, mimo vymezenou část stírané plochy čelního skla nebo poškození o velikosti menší než 20 mm, které se nachází ve vymezené části stírané plochy čelního skla.". That is the literal wording from the Czech inspection, untranslated.
Priority Low · Ownership
How many keys come with the car?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: Uncertainty about exactly how many keys there are.
Why you ask this
Is a second key missing? That can point to earlier loss or theft. A new one also costs money.
Priority Low · Price
Is the asking price negotiable, and what is the lowest price you would accept?
Watch for this answer
Watch out for a suspicious answer: "The price is fixed", without any explanation. And that while the car has been for sale for a long time.
Why you ask this
This tells you straight away how much room there is to negotiate. You do not have to name a price first.
Part 6 of 6
Details
All register data, what this report does not know, and where it all comes from.
Vehicle details
Official data (DVSA MOT History)
Dates and status
First registration
20/05/2018
Open recall
No
Appearance
Colour
Grey
Engine and fuel
Fuel type
Petrol
Engine displacement
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Start free with your car
Advisories at multiple inspections (not failures)
In short: positive
Mileage matches the age of the car (an average of 9,120 mi per year).An above-average purchase score of 76/100.
Purchase score
76 out of 100
076100
The score weighs price, history, maintenance, mileage, and more.
Priceweighs 20%
67
Historyweighs 15%
100
Model reliabilityweighs 15%
79
Maintenanceweighs 12%
100
Mileageweighs 10%
100
Listing transparencyweighs 10%
43
Sellerweighs 8%
80
Expected costs (weakest part)weighs 10%
33
A sub-score of 100/100 means: no negative signals found. That does not prove perfection. A sub-score can be 100 even with little data about an item.
Notes on the score
The British MOT figures count towards the model reliability sub-score. At the measured ages this model fails about 1 times as often as the British average. That average covers all cars that came on the road in the same year. This raises that sub-score by 1 out of 100, with a maximum of 4 points. The total purchase score comes out at 76/100.
Available data
Extensive data available
This shows how much data we had, not the car's condition.
Why this matters
Advisories point to parts you will have to replace soon, such as tyres or brake components.
Known model issues
Severity goes from low through medium to high. The icon and the word say the same thing.
Severity goes from low through medium to high. The icon and the word say the same thing.
10 points for this model. One point has a repair amount and is listed first.
Repair costs are estimates in euros based on European workshop rates. They are not converted to GBP and not adjusted to local rates.
Severity High · Cooling system
Coolant leak (cooling system/cylinder head)
Repair costs€400 to €3,000
Applies to 2012-2018 (mainly models before the revised cylinder head) · 1.0 EcoBoost (three-cylinder)
With this engine, coolant can be lost without a visible puddle under the car, sometimes through an internal leak. Unnoticed coolant loss can lead to overheating and engine damage.
What you'll notice
coolant level dropping faster than expected, temperature gauge rising, milky oil on the dipstick (coolant mixed with oil)
Ask the seller
Has the coolant level ever dropped unusually fast, or has the engine ever overheated?
Check during the test drive
Check the coolant level. Look at the colour of the oil on the dipstick. Milky oil is a warning sign. Watch the temperature gauge during the drive.
Ask for these documents
Invoices for cooling system maintenance or repair
How often this happens
Known point of attention for this engine family; later model years have been technically adjusted.
Automated assessment: no source document for this claimPossibly relevantConfidence in this estimate: HighSeverity Medium · Other
British MOT figures for cars that came on the road in 2018
In 2025 the car failed at 8,598 of the 47,235 first British MOT tests, which is 18.2%. This covers cars of this model that came on the road in 2018, then 7 years old. Retests are not counted. Trend per year: 2021 (3 yr) 10.8% of 49,648; 2022 (4 yr) 12.5% of 48,499; 2023 (5 yr) 14.8% of 48,000; 2024 (6 yr) 16.6% of 47,766; 2025 (7 yr) 18.2% of 47,235. For comparison: all British cars that came on the road that same year were at 19.1% in 2025. This figure on its own is context only, not a verdict. It does not count towards the purchase score by itself. The ratio between these two figures does count, within a limit, towards the model reliability sub-score. The number of tests fell from 49,648 in 2021 to 47,235. That is 95.1% of the peak. It counts tests, not cars that still exist. The smaller that group gets, the more strongly selected the cars still on the road are. Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car.
Ask the seller
Has this car already been checked or repaired after this official point? See the sources section of this report for the details.
How often this happens
8598 of the 47235 British MOT statistics, age 6-8 yr.
Source: DVSA MOT statisticsSeverity Medium · Other
IIHS/HLDI loss index: Focus
According to IIHS/HLDI, the "all coverages combined" loss index for Focus is 135. Basis 100 is the US national average for all passenger cars under this coverage. Note: this is an index figure or rating class, an insurance statistic about the whole model. It is not a chance of defects and not a prediction for this car.
Source: IIHS/HLDI· Based on American insurance claims for this model. This does not automatically apply to this countryA loss index of 100 is the US national average for this coverage. Higher means more or costlier insurance claims than average for this model. Not a chance of defects and not a prediction for this car.General model informationReliability: HighSeverity Medium · Other
German insurance class (GDV type class)
According to the GDV rating-class register (rate year 2024), Focus has KH 10-20 (scale 10-25), VK 10-28 (scale 10-34), TK 12-25 (scale 10-33). Note: this range comes from 253 known engine variants in this rate year. GDV only looks at make and model here, not at the generation. With a count this high, several model generations may be pooled together. Note: this is an index figure or rating class, an insurance statistic about the whole model. It is not a chance of defects and not a prediction for this car.
Source: GDV Typklassenverzeichnis· Based on German insurance rating classes for this model. This does not automatically apply to this countryA rating class places this model on a fixed German insurance scale for claims figures. KH = third-party liability, VK = fully comprehensive, TK = partly comprehensive. Higher usually means costlier claims. It says nothing about the reliability of this car.General model informationReliability: HighSeverity Medium · Other
Differs per country
The countries contradict each other here. In Netherlands (recent picture (last 3 years)) this model fails clearly more often at this age than the average in that country. In United Kingdom it fails clearly less often. We deliberately give no combined figure: look at each country separately. United Kingdom: 47,239 measurements. Czech Republic: 1,887 measurements. Netherlands (recent picture (last 3 years)): 18,456 measurements.
Source: Cross-source consensusGeneral model informationReliability: HighSeverity Medium · Other
Defect pattern confirmed in 2 countries
This defect pattern, Visibility, is among the most common defects at this age in United Kingdom, Netherlands (recent picture (last 3 years)). Each country measured this separately, not combined into one figure.
Source: Cross-source consensusGeneral model informationReliability: HighSeverity Medium · Other
Defect pattern confirmed in 3 countries
This defect pattern, Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system, is among the most common defects at this age in United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Netherlands (recent picture (last 3 years)). Each country measured this separately, not combined into one figure.
Source: Cross-source consensusGeneral model informationReliability: HighSeverity Medium · Other
Defect pattern confirmed in 2 countries
This defect pattern, Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension, is among the most common defects at this age in United Kingdom, Netherlands (recent picture (last 3 years)). Each country measured this separately, not combined into one figure.
Source: Cross-source consensusGeneral model informationReliability: HighSeverity Medium · Other
Defect pattern confirmed in 2 countries
This defect pattern, Nuisance, is among the most common defects at this age in United Kingdom, Czech Republic. Each country measured this separately, not combined into one figure.
Source: Cross-source consensusGeneral model informationReliability: HighSeverity Low · Other
Manufacturer communications from the United States
1 quote from the source, in English
The manufacturer has published 107 technical bulletins about FOCUS, mainly about ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (39 of 107), EQUIPMENT (17 of 107), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (12 of 107). These are messages from the manufacturer to the dealer network, for example repair instructions, software updates or warranty programmes. They are not recalls themselves and not a proven problem with this model. That also holds when the text mentions a recall. The count says nothing about the quality of this car.
Ask for these documents
Quote (NHTSA ID 11036546, added 2026-09-01): "Customer Satisfaction Program 26L02 Certain 2014-2021 Model Year Various Vehicles 1.0L Fox Classic Engine Timing Belt and Oil Pump Belt Interval Change" · Quote (NHTSA ID 11033577, added 2026-06-05): "Certain 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco, 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco Sport, 2020-2022 Model Year Corsair and Escape, 2016-2024 Model Year Explorer, 2019-2020 Model Year Fusion, 2016-2018 Model Year Focus RS, 2022-2024 Model Year Maverick, 2016-2019 Model Year MKC and 2019-2024 Model Year Ranger Vehicles Equipped with a…"
Source: NHTSA Manufacturer Communications· Manufacturer bulletins for the American market. They do not automatically apply to this countryBulletins (service bulletins) from the manufacturer to its dealers, for example repair instructions, software updates or warranty programmes. Such a bulletin is not a recall and does not prove a problem with this model. Not even when the text mentions a recall.
Maximum price£8,950
you stop here
Expected costs after buying€1,700
Repair costs are estimates in euros based on European workshop rates. They are not converted to GBP and not adjusted to local rates.
What speaks for the car
No particular positive price factors found based on the available data.
What speaks against the asking price
The asking price is above the target price.
Known points to watch for this model can cost money later. See the known issues section.
Arguments for a lower offer
Based on your data, the target price is around £8,528. That is a good start for the conversation.
Allow for about £1,700 of maintenance that may be needed. This is about known points to watch for this model.
What to say
On the phone
Hello, I'm calling about the Ford Focus you've advertised. Is it still for sale?
Could you tell me why you're selling the car and whether the service book is complete?
Is there any room for movement on the asking price, and if so, how much?
During the viewing
Could I look at the service book and any invoices before we go for a test drive?
I'd like to take a proper test drive, including some driving at higher speeds. Would that be all right?
I've looked at the condition of the car and compared other listings. I'm thinking of a price around £8,528.
Message (WhatsApp/email)
Hello, I'm interested in your Ford Focus. After doing some research I've arrived at an offer of around £7,876, partly in view of some known points to watch for this model. Would you be open to discussing it?
Price analysis
Entered by you
Entered by you
We adjusted the prices of your 3 listings to the mileage and year of manufacture of this car. That way you can compare them fairly.
£8,950
£7,963£9,229
Market rate
LowHigh
Asking price £8,950 is within the range from £7,963 to £9,229.
Adjusted middle price
£8,792
Number of listings
3
Spread across your listings
6.1%
The asking price of £8,950 is £158 (1.8%) above the adjusted middle price of your 3 listings (£8,792).
Low-emission zone: allowed Petrol, LPG or CNG from Euro 4: no charge in Clean Air Zones and the ULEZ. Euro emission class estimated from the year of manufacture, not from the register. Source: GOV.UK Clean Air Zones + TfL ULEZ. Last checked: 05/08/2026.
Engine & trim (estimate)
Advice
Generation
Focus Mk4
Facelift
Unknown
Engine code
1.0 EcoBoost with chain drive (Sigma engine family)
Engine variant (estimate)
Unknown
Transmission
Unknown
Confidence of estimate
60%
Still uncertain about:
Chassis number/VIN for a 100% certain engine code
We are not sure of the engine variant. Possible variants:
1.0 EcoBoost 100 hpEntry-level version of this engine.
1.0 EcoBoost 125/140 hpMore powerful version, often recognisable by the type plate or the trim name.
Listing details
From the listing
Asking price
£8,950
Mileage
72,960 mi
Seller type
Dealer
Dealer
Northside Motors
Maintenance info
Service history available, regularly maintained.
Warranty
3 months dealer warranty
Damage info
Unknown
Not mentioned in the listing.
Ask the seller about any previous damage to the car.
The listing text, as the seller wrote it
Tidy Ford Focus, model year 2018. Mileage 72,960 mi, in good condition with no known defects. Asking price £8,950, viewing welcome in Manchester, no obligation.
The car must be of satisfactory quality (Consumer Rights Act 2015). Within 30 days you have a full right to reject. Between 30 days and six months: one attempt at repair, and the trader must prove that the defect was not yet present. After six months you must prove that the defect was already there.
This protection only applies when buying from a dealer, not in a private sale.
This applies only when the seller is a registered trader, not to a private sale or an auction.
Basic details of the car from this country's official register.
Listing text (seller)
02/10/2026
Listing · reliability: medium
Listing details you added yourself.
Your own listings
02/10/2026
Market data · reliability: medium
Comparison with the 3 listing(s) you added yourself.
Analysis (Plateop)
02/10/2026
Conclusion · reliability: medium
Automatically created explanation, checklist, questions and advice based on the data above.
DVSA MOT History
Provides: vehicle and registration data, inspection history, recalls.
As of: 02/10/2026
CZ STK
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 1.
DVSA MOT statistics
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 1.
Finnish inspection data
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 1.
GDV Typklassenverzeichnis
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 1.
Irish inspection data
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 1.
IIHS/HLDI
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 1.
Cross-source consensus
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 5.
Dutch inspection data
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 1.
NHTSA Manufacturer Communications
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 1.
Norwegian inspection data
Known model problems for which this source provides the evidence: 1.
Go to the official source, DVSA MOT History, and check the main facts yourself.
What this report doesn't know (and how to find out for free)
Three things you can check yourself:
Earlier mileage readings
We do not see every earlier mileage reading. Ask the seller for service invoices and inspection reports that show the mileage. Compare those with the current reading.
Damage history
There is no public damage database we may use. So we do not invent one. Do you have doubts about earlier damage? Then have the car inspected independently by a qualified garage or inspection service.
Earlier maintenance and current condition
We cannot see what work has been done on the car. Nor how it stands today. Ask for the service book and the invoices. Judge the condition yourself when you view the car and on the test drive.
Missing information
For this car we cannot check whether there was earlier damage. We also cannot see whether it was ever written off.
We did not check whether there is a lien on this car.
The official source for this country does not provide CO2 emissions, fuel consumption, weight or power.
Chassis number/VIN for a 100% certain engine code
This report is a tool, not a substitute for an inspection
The purchase score, the risk assessments and the advice in this report come from an automated analysis.
What the terms and liability say exactly
That analysis uses general model knowledge and the data available at that moment. This is not a technical inspection and gives no guarantee about the condition of the car. Plateop accepts no liability for decisions you take on the basis of this report. If in doubt, always have a car inspected by an independent expert before you decide.