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Lambretta Special Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lambretta Special car check

Is the Lambretta Special reliable? We analysed 1,015 real MOT tests across 122 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,015 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.1%
Typical Mileage
2,448mi
Annual Mileage
215mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
60yrs

The Lambretta Special 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%., steering headbearing has excessive free play and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lambretta Special.

Lambretta Special Number Plates

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

Lambretta Special MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

83.8%
2008
88.9%
2006
89.1%
2005
91%
2002
85.9%
2001
92%
1966

Lambretta Special Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lambretta Special 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%. 8
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 7
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 5
Brake pedal has inadequate reserve travel 4
Riders seat insecure 3
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 3
wheel bearings have excessive free play 3
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 3
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 3
suspension assembly excessive wear or free play in a front suspension component 2

Lambretta Special Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
67 mi/yr
Typical
215 mi/yr
Average
710 mi/yr
Heavy usage
551 mi/yr

Lambretta Special MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 68 83.8% 487 1,046 3,089
2006 54 88.9% 170 1,046 3,450
2005 92 89.1% 897 2,768 8,191
2002 67 91.0% 1,306 5,661 18,788
2001 64 85.9% 707 1,921 16,010
1966 75 92.0% 262 1,075 7,342

How Long Does a Lambretta Special Last?

Based on 122 Lambretta Special vehicles on UK roads.

Average
23.4 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
60 years

Lambretta Special Mileage Distribution

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

Median
2,448 mi
75th Percentile
13,382 mi
95th Percentile
37,404 mi
Max Recorded
848,797 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lambretta Special

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

Best year
1966

92.0% MOT pass rate from 75 tests

Year to avoid
2008

83.8% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

The best year to buy a used Lambretta Special is 1966, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.0% across 75 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lambretta Special Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lambretta Special THIS CAR 88.1% 1,015 2,448 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
Ford Tourneo Connect Titnium Eblu A 83.5% 855 21,814 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Lambretta Special?

The Lambretta Special has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.1% across 1,015 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 Special are roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (8 recorded failures), steering headbearing has excessive free play (7), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (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 Special owner drives around 215 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 Special 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 Special — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lambretta Special reliable?
Based on 1,015 MOT tests, the Lambretta Special has a 88.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lambretta Special?
The most common MOT failures are roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%., steering headbearing has excessive free play, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lambretta Special do per year?
The typical Lambretta Special does around 215 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lambretta Special last?
Most Lambretta Special models stay on UK roads for around 60 years based on our analysis of 122 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lambretta 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 Special?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lambretta Special is 1966 with a 92.0% pass rate across 75 tests.