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Lambretta Li 125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lambretta Li 125 car check

Is the Lambretta Li 125 reliable? We analysed 6,657 real MOT tests across 1,039 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,657 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.4%
Typical Mileage
2,833mi
Annual Mileage
231mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
67yrs

The Lambretta Li 125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%., stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lambretta Li 125.

Lambretta Li 125 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Lambretta Li 125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Lambretta Li 125 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Lambretta Li 125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

89.7%
2015
88.1%
2014
90.4%
2013
90.3%
2012
93.3%
2011
85.2%
2010
89.1%
2009
93.6%
2008
86.4%
2007
90.1%
2006
91.7%
2005
89.7%
2004
87.2%
2003
90.5%
2002
86.3%
2001
89.9%
2000
85.9%
1999
86.9%
1998
85%
1997
83.1%
1996

Lambretta Li 125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lambretta Li 125 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 54
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 54
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 46
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 37
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on main beam 36
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 35
Brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel 34
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 27
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 22
Horn not working 20

Lambretta Li 125 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Lambretta Li 125 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
63 mi/yr
Typical
231 mi/yr
Average
704 mi/yr
Heavy usage
613 mi/yr

Lambretta Li 125 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lambretta Li 125 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2015 97 89.7% 190 733 9,300
2014 84 88.1% 86 803 8,975
2013 156 90.4% 178 866 3,961
2012 175 90.3% 348 944 2,634
2011 104 93.3% 326 1,000 5,390
2010 257 85.2% 518 2,613 28,838
2009 247 89.1% 473 1,532 5,706
2008 233 93.6% 456 2,058 20,571
2007 258 86.4% 894 2,791 17,760
2006 414 90.1% 412 1,737 7,342
2005 338 91.7% 1,018 4,612 19,122
2004 312 89.7% 951 3,203 13,600
2003 328 87.2% 1,267 3,822 22,179
2002 168 90.5% 2,138 10,322 40,196
2001 291 86.3% 1,414 13,596 27,252
2000 148 89.9% 1,924 3,665 19,003
1999 170 85.9% 408 1,938 14,944
1998 168 86.9% 5,581 13,476 21,937
1997 127 85.0% 1,729 4,811 29,058
1996 59 83.1% 3,683 11,237 12,159

How Long Does a Lambretta Li 125 Last?

Based on 1,039 Lambretta Li 125 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
25.4 years
Median
15.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
67 years

Lambretta Li 125 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Lambretta Li 125 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
2,833 mi
75th Percentile
16,828 mi
95th Percentile
45,396 mi
Max Recorded
208,920 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lambretta Li 125

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

Best year
2008

93.6% MOT pass rate from 233 tests

Year to avoid
1984

80.2% MOT pass rate from 81 tests

The best year to buy a used Lambretta Li 125 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.6% across 233 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lambretta Li 125 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lambretta Li 125 THIS CAR 88.4% 6,657 2,833 mi 67 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 GP100 77.1% 2,769 15,934 mi 47 yrs

Compared to the Lambretta GP200 (89.3% pass rate) and the Lambretta LI125 (88.9% pass rate), the Lambretta Li 125 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Lambretta Li 125?

The Lambretta Li 125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.4% across 6,657 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 Li 125 are roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (54 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (54), and headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam (46). 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 Li 125 owner drives around 231 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 Li 125 models stay on UK roads for around 67 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 Li 125 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lambretta Li 125 reliable?
Based on 6,657 MOT tests, the Lambretta Li 125 has a 88.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lambretta Li 125?
The most common MOT failures are roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%., stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lambretta Li 125 do per year?
The typical Lambretta Li 125 does around 231 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lambretta Li 125 last?
Most Lambretta Li 125 models stay on UK roads for around 67 years based on our analysis of 1,039 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lambretta Li 125?
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 Li 125?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lambretta Li 125 is 2008 with a 93.6% pass rate across 233 tests.