Honda VT250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda VT250 car check
Is the Honda VT250 reliable? We analysed 1,175 real MOT tests across 227 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda VT250? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda VT250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey and footrest insecure. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda VT250.
Honda VT250 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda VT250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda VT250 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda VT250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda VT250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda VT250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda VT250 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda VT250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda VT250 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda VT250 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 62 | 91.9% | 8,425 | 11,750 | 15,068 |
| 1998 | 77 | 89.6% | 19,763 | 29,533 | 36,730 |
| 1987 | 202 | 75.7% | 23,828 | 31,925 | 35,199 |
| 1986 | 236 | 85.2% | 20,228 | 28,407 | 39,177 |
| 1985 | 81 | 80.2% | 18,080 | 25,268 | 32,505 |
| 1984 | 148 | 78.4% | 16,538 | 30,796 | 50,588 |
| 1983 | 126 | 87.3% | 10,347 | 20,970 | 29,976 |
How Long Does a Honda VT250 Last?
Based on 227 Honda VT250 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda VT250 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda VT250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda VT250
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.9% MOT pass rate from 62 tests
75.7% MOT pass rate from 202 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda VT250 is 1999, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.9% across 62 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda VT250 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda VT250 THIS CAR | 82.7% | 1,175 | 26,640 mi | 43 yrs |
| Honda Civic | 73.7% | 9,391,580 | 74,987 mi | 34 yrs |
| Honda Jazz | 81% | 5,740,892 | 48,635 mi | 24 yrs |
| Honda Cr-v | 78.5% | 4,177,643 | 80,499 mi | 29 yrs |
| Seat Ibiza FR Sport MPI | 87.6% | 1,439 | 31,437 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda VT250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda VT250 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Honda VT250Should you buy a used Honda VT250?
The Honda VT250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.7% across 1,175 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 Honda VT250 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (40 recorded failures), exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey (13), and footrest insecure (13). 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 Honda VT250 owner drives around 284 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 Honda VT250 models stay on UK roads for around 43 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.