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Honda VT600 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda VT600 car check

Is the Honda VT600 reliable? We analysed 6,311 real MOT tests across 627 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,311 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.7%
Typical Mileage
17,111mi
Annual Mileage
395mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Honda VT600 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda VT600.

Honda VT600 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda VT600. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda VT600 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda VT600 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.7%
2007
83.5%
2006
84.7%
2002
85.9%
2001
83.3%
2000
83.2%
1999
85.2%
1998
86.1%
1997
83.6%
1996
83.3%
1995
82.2%
1994
83.1%
1993
84.3%
1992
82.5%
1991
84.8%
1989
81.6%
1988

Honda VT600 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda VT600 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 101
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 73
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 52
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 33
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 32
wheel bearings have excessive free play 27
Throttle operating incorrectly 25
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 24
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 22

Honda VT600 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda VT600 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
122 mi/yr
Typical
395 mi/yr
Average
1,021 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,131 mi/yr

Honda VT600 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda VT600 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 57 87.7% 9,048 11,938 16,406
2006 103 83.5% 7,757 21,816 42,839
2002 85 84.7% 4,808 7,318 15,676
2001 135 85.9% 10,186 14,206 21,274
2000 431 83.3% 8,062 12,894 18,126
1999 500 83.2% 8,607 17,468 31,662
1998 290 85.2% 6,498 13,472 24,744
1997 510 86.1% 9,248 13,107 20,387
1996 813 83.6% 12,067 17,212 25,181
1995 383 83.3% 11,459 21,487 29,106
1994 591 82.2% 10,443 19,191 27,961
1993 1,201 83.1% 12,034 20,784 32,306
1992 781 84.3% 10,687 19,560 29,162
1991 57 82.5% 2,719 13,420 17,302
1989 66 84.8% 12,256 19,655 29,704
1988 152 81.6% 9,438 18,647 25,820

How Long Does a Honda VT600 Last?

Based on 627 Honda VT600 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
22.1 years
Median
24.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Honda VT600 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda VT600 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
17,111 mi
75th Percentile
27,597 mi
95th Percentile
47,880 mi
Max Recorded
722,918 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda VT600

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

Best year
2007

87.7% MOT pass rate from 57 tests

Year to avoid
1988

81.6% MOT pass rate from 152 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda VT600 is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.7% across 57 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda VT600 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda VT600 THIS CAR 83.7% 6,311 17,111 mi 38 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
Jeep Patriot Sport Plus 66.8% 2,305 64,454 mi 16 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda VT600 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Honda VT600?

The Honda VT600 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.7% across 6,311 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 VT600 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (101 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (73), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (52). 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 VT600 owner drives around 395 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 VT600 models stay on UK roads for around 38 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.

Honda VT600 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda VT600 reliable?
Based on 6,311 MOT tests, the Honda VT600 has a 83.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda VT600?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda VT600 do per year?
The typical Honda VT600 does around 395 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda VT600 last?
Most Honda VT600 models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 627 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda VT600?
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 Honda VT600?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda VT600 is 2007 with a 87.7% pass rate across 57 tests.