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Lambretta LI150 Special Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lambretta LI150 Special car check

Is the Lambretta LI150 Special reliable? We analysed 586 real MOT tests across 145 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 586 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
92.7%
Typical Mileage
2,299mi
Annual Mileage
152mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
62yrs

The Lambretta LI150 Special is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering headbearing has excessive free play, headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lambretta LI150 Special.

Lambretta LI150 Special Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Lambretta LI150 Special. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Lambretta LI150 Special MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Lambretta LI150 Special to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

92.2%
1965
90.8%
1964

Lambretta LI150 Special Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lambretta LI150 Special fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Steering headbearing has excessive free play 4
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 3
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 3
Brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel 3
Tyre is incorrectly seated on the wheel rim 2
Horn not working 2
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 2
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 2
Stop lamp missing 1
suspension spring worn and seriously weakened 1

Lambretta LI150 Special Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Lambretta LI150 Special owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
34 mi/yr
Typical
152 mi/yr
Average
628 mi/yr
Heavy usage
477 mi/yr

Lambretta LI150 Special MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lambretta LI150 Special year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1965 64 92.2% 245 1,525 7,119
1964 87 90.8% 41 149 14,059

How Long Does a Lambretta LI150 Special Last?

Based on 145 Lambretta LI150 Special vehicles on UK roads.

Average
27.2 years
Median
21.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
62 years

Lambretta LI150 Special Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Lambretta LI150 Special MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
2,299 mi
75th Percentile
14,670 mi
95th Percentile
41,059 mi
Max Recorded
306,946 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lambretta LI150 Special

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

Best year
1965

92.2% MOT pass rate from 64 tests

Year to avoid
1964

90.8% MOT pass rate from 87 tests

The best year to buy a used Lambretta LI150 Special is 1965, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.2% across 64 tests. The 1964 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lambretta LI150 Special Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lambretta LI150 Special THIS CAR 92.7% 586 2,299 mi 62 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
Aprilia Leonardo 250 83.6% 1,131 18,314 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Lambretta GP200 (89.3% pass rate) and the Lambretta LI125 (88.9% pass rate), the Lambretta LI150 Special outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Lambretta LI150 Special?

The Lambretta LI150 Special has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.7% across 586 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 LI150 Special are steering headbearing has excessive free play (4 recorded failures), headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam (3), and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel (3). 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 LI150 Special owner drives around 152 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 LI150 Special models stay on UK roads for around 62 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 LI150 Special — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lambretta LI150 Special reliable?
Based on 586 MOT tests, the Lambretta LI150 Special has a 92.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lambretta LI150 Special?
The most common MOT failures are steering headbearing has excessive free play, headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam, and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lambretta LI150 Special do per year?
The typical Lambretta LI150 Special does around 152 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lambretta LI150 Special last?
Most Lambretta LI150 Special models stay on UK roads for around 62 years based on our analysis of 145 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lambretta LI150 Special?
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 LI150 Special?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lambretta LI150 Special is 1965 with a 92.2% pass rate across 64 tests.