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Lambretta Scooter Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lambretta Scooter car check

Is the Lambretta Scooter reliable? We analysed 1,088 real MOT tests across 152 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,088 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.7%
Typical Mileage
3,414mi
Annual Mileage
224mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
60yrs

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

Lambretta Scooter Number Plates

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

Lambretta Scooter MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.5%
2010
86.2%
2007
86.7%
2004
87.9%
2003
90%
1966

Lambretta Scooter Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lambretta Scooter 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 16
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 7
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 5
wheel bearings are excessively rough 4
Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s 4
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 3
Brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel 3
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on main beam 3
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 3
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 3

Lambretta Scooter Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
65 mi/yr
Typical
224 mi/yr
Average
1,030 mi/yr
Heavy usage
640 mi/yr

Lambretta Scooter MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 61 88.5% 319 896 5,320
2007 87 86.2% 358 599 2,206
2004 113 86.7% 781 2,700 17,009
2003 58 87.9% 2,375 4,859 24,683
1966 60 90.0% 819 2,980 9,793

How Long Does a Lambretta Scooter Last?

Based on 152 Lambretta Scooter vehicles on UK roads.

Average
30.1 years
Median
34.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
60 years

Lambretta Scooter Mileage Distribution

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

Median
3,414 mi
75th Percentile
17,794 mi
95th Percentile
38,518 mi
Max Recorded
312,104 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lambretta Scooter

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

Best year
1966

90.0% MOT pass rate from 60 tests

Year to avoid
2007

86.2% MOT pass rate from 87 tests

The best year to buy a used Lambretta Scooter is 1966, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.0% across 60 tests. The 2007 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lambretta Scooter Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lambretta Scooter THIS CAR 88.7% 1,088 3,414 mi 60 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
Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle 93.7% 863 3,954 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Lambretta Scooter?

The Lambretta Scooter has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.7% across 1,088 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 Scooter are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (16 recorded failures), steering headbearing has excessive free play (7), and headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam (5). 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 Scooter owner drives around 224 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 Scooter models stay on UK roads for around 60 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 Scooter — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lambretta Scooter reliable?
Based on 1,088 MOT tests, the Lambretta Scooter has a 88.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lambretta Scooter?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, steering headbearing has excessive free play, and headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lambretta Scooter do per year?
The typical Lambretta Scooter does around 224 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lambretta Scooter last?
Most Lambretta Scooter models stay on UK roads for around 60 years based on our analysis of 152 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lambretta Scooter?
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 Scooter?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lambretta Scooter is 1966 with a 90.0% pass rate across 60 tests.