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Aprilia RS 250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Aprilia RS 250 car check

Is the Aprilia RS 250 reliable? We analysed 5,548 real MOT tests across 936 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Aprilia RS 250? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 5,548 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.7%
Typical Mileage
10,917mi
Annual Mileage
189mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Aprilia RS 250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Aprilia RS 250.

Aprilia RS 250 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Aprilia RS 250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Aprilia RS 250 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Aprilia RS 250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

94.1%
2003
88.4%
2002
89%
2001
90.4%
2000
89.5%
1999
86.3%
1998
86.1%
1997
87.8%
1996
84.5%
1995

Aprilia RS 250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Aprilia RS 250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 55
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 45
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 27
Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released 25
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 25
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 22
Horn not working 18
Headlamp aim too low 16
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 15
Drive chain excessively loose 14

Aprilia RS 250 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Aprilia RS 250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
56 mi/yr
Typical
189 mi/yr
Average
518 mi/yr
Heavy usage
515 mi/yr

Aprilia RS 250 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Aprilia RS 250 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 188 94.1% 2,832 5,868 8,047
2002 284 88.4% 4,892 8,297 13,828
2001 417 89.0% 4,787 8,194 12,818
2000 819 90.4% 6,940 9,988 13,694
1999 617 89.5% 6,276 10,027 15,399
1998 940 86.3% 7,438 11,681 17,830
1997 657 86.1% 9,241 12,367 17,728
1996 779 87.8% 7,688 12,139 16,694
1995 756 84.5% 8,660 12,515 16,472

How Long Does a Aprilia RS 250 Last?

Based on 936 Aprilia RS 250 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.7 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Aprilia RS 250 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Aprilia RS 250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
10,917 mi
75th Percentile
15,761 mi
95th Percentile
25,311 mi
Max Recorded
167,440 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Aprilia RS 250

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2003

94.1% MOT pass rate from 188 tests

Year to avoid
1995

84.5% MOT pass rate from 756 tests

The best year to buy a used Aprilia RS 250 is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.1% across 188 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Aprilia RS 250 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Aprilia RS 250 THIS CAR 87.7% 5,548 10,917 mi 31 yrs
Aprilia Rsv 86.8% 87,683 13,065 mi 27 yrs
Aprilia RS125 70.2% 51,570 13,624 mi 31 yrs
Aprilia Tuono 89.5% 42,169 11,799 mi 24 yrs
MG C GT 81.8% 4,788 36,880 mi 58 yrs

Compared to the Aprilia Rsv (86.8% pass rate) and the Aprilia RS125 (70.2% pass rate), the Aprilia RS 250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Aprilia RS 250?

The Aprilia RS 250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.7% across 5,548 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Aprilia RS 250 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (55 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (45), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (27). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Aprilia RS 250 owner drives around 189 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Aprilia RS 250 models stay on UK roads for around 31 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Aprilia RS 250 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Aprilia RS 250 reliable?
Based on 5,548 MOT tests, the Aprilia RS 250 has a 87.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Aprilia RS 250?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Aprilia RS 250 do per year?
The typical Aprilia RS 250 does around 189 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Aprilia RS 250 last?
Most Aprilia RS 250 models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 936 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Aprilia RS 250?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Aprilia RS 250?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Aprilia RS 250 is 2003 with a 94.1% pass rate across 188 tests.