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Lambretta 150 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lambretta 150 car check

Is the Lambretta 150 reliable? We analysed 1,163 real MOT tests across 174 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,163 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.4%
Typical Mileage
2,910mi
Annual Mileage
221mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Lambretta 150 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, horn not working and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lambretta 150.

Lambretta 150 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Lambretta 150. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Lambretta 150 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Lambretta 150 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

93.2%
2010
82.6%
2006
87.7%
2005
95.7%
2003

Lambretta 150 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lambretta 150 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 18
Horn not working 8
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 8
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 7
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 7
Brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel 6
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 5
Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s 4
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 4
Headlamp dipped beam affected by the operation of the horn 4

Lambretta 150 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Lambretta 150 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
61 mi/yr
Typical
221 mi/yr
Average
600 mi/yr
Heavy usage
604 mi/yr

Lambretta 150 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lambretta 150 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 59 93.2% 379 875 4,028
2006 86 82.6% 2,124 17,134 47,848
2005 73 87.7% 1,346 2,512 6,176
2003 93 95.7% 4,684 22,314 44,481

How Long Does a Lambretta 150 Last?

Based on 174 Lambretta 150 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
27.6 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Lambretta 150 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Lambretta 150 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
2,910 mi
75th Percentile
20,640 mi
95th Percentile
52,575 mi
Max Recorded
97,132 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lambretta 150

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

Best year
2003

95.7% MOT pass rate from 93 tests

Year to avoid
2006

82.6% MOT pass rate from 86 tests

The best year to buy a used Lambretta 150 is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.7% across 93 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lambretta 150 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lambretta 150 THIS CAR 90.4% 1,163 2,910 mi 23 yrs
Lambretta GP200 89.3% 20,062 2,269 mi 59 yrs
Lambretta LI125 88.9% 16,544 2,774 mi 67 yrs
Lambretta LI150 90% 14,980 3,032 mi 68 yrs
Suzuki An 400 AL8 94.6% 1,222 7,283 mi — yrs

Compared to the Lambretta GP200 (89.3% pass rate) and the Lambretta LI125 (88.9% pass rate), the Lambretta 150 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Lambretta 150?

The Lambretta 150 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.4% across 1,163 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 Lambretta 150 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (18 recorded failures), horn not working (8), and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on (8). 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 Lambretta 150 owner drives around 221 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 Lambretta 150 models stay on UK roads for around 23 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.

Lambretta 150 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lambretta 150 reliable?
Based on 1,163 MOT tests, the Lambretta 150 has a 90.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lambretta 150?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, horn not working, and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lambretta 150 do per year?
The typical Lambretta 150 does around 221 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lambretta 150 last?
Most Lambretta 150 models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 174 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lambretta 150?
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 Lambretta 150?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lambretta 150 is 2003 with a 95.7% pass rate across 93 tests.