Honda VT500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda VT500 car check
Is the Honda VT500 reliable? We analysed 5,525 real MOT tests across 821 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda VT500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda VT500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda VT500.
Honda VT500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda VT500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda VT500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda VT500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda VT500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda VT500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda VT500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda VT500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda VT500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda VT500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 115 | 83.5% | 39,620 | 44,019 | 49,409 |
| 1988 | 1,039 | 83.8% | 26,043 | 39,983 | 51,784 |
| 1987 | 1,032 | 82.4% | 23,592 | 39,482 | 56,097 |
| 1986 | 1,038 | 79.7% | 21,343 | 35,759 | 53,592 |
| 1985 | 908 | 80.3% | 22,089 | 30,660 | 44,164 |
| 1984 | 701 | 81.6% | 18,293 | 33,292 | 45,066 |
| 1983 | 536 | 78.7% | 20,238 | 29,788 | 44,078 |
How Long Does a Honda VT500 Last?
Based on 821 Honda VT500 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda VT500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda VT500 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 VT500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
83.8% MOT pass rate from 1,039 tests
78.7% MOT pass rate from 536 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda VT500 is 1988, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.8% across 1,039 tests. The 1983 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda VT500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda VT500 THIS CAR | 81.3% | 5,525 | 35,785 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 |
| Mini Countryman Cooper S ALL4 | 82.7% | 5,050 | 57,266 mi | 16 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda VT500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda VT500 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 VT500Should you buy a used Honda VT500?
The Honda VT500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.3% across 5,525 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 VT500 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (133 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (65), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (43). 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 VT500 owner drives around 431 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 VT500 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.