Riley 1.5 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Riley 1.5 car check
Is the Riley 1.5 reliable? We analysed 2,111 real MOT tests across 292 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Riley 1.5? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Riley 1.5 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and brakes imbalanced across an axle. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Riley 1.5.
Riley 1.5 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Riley 1.5. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Riley 1.5 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Riley 1.5 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Riley 1.5 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Riley 1.5 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Riley 1.5 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Riley 1.5 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Riley 1.5 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Riley 1.5 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 174 | 87.4% | 53,460 | 67,643 | 85,775 |
| 1964 | 227 | 81.1% | 20,636 | 42,293 | 66,598 |
| 1963 | 184 | 77.7% | 39,764 | 59,338 | 69,642 |
| 1962 | 277 | 81.2% | 36,028 | 70,425 | 78,600 |
| 1961 | 346 | 80.9% | 16,716 | 44,953 | 75,965 |
| 1960 | 240 | 82.1% | 32,087 | 55,248 | 70,172 |
| 1959 | 123 | 86.2% | 35,666 | 40,560 | 55,404 |
| 1958 | 104 | 72.1% | 18,494 | 36,546 | 50,558 |
| 1954 | 96 | 86.5% | 27,835 | 36,756 | 67,576 |
| 1953 | 53 | 88.7% | 13,704 | 74,491 | 82,383 |
How Long Does a Riley 1.5 Last?
Based on 292 Riley 1.5 vehicles on UK roads.
Riley 1.5 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Riley 1.5 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Riley 1.5
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.7% MOT pass rate from 53 tests
72.1% MOT pass rate from 104 tests
The best year to buy a used Riley 1.5 is 1953, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.7% across 53 tests. The 1958 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Riley 1.5 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riley 1.5 THIS CAR | 82.0% | 2,111 | 52,187 mi | 73 yrs |
| Riley Elf | 76.9% | 5,039 | 51,475 mi | 63 yrs |
| Riley 1.5 Litre | 85.4% | 1,865 | 41,694 mi | 79 yrs |
| Riley 2.5 Litre | 87.7% | 789 | 40,583 mi | 77 yrs |
| Renault R9 | 67.3% | 2,301 | 67,903 mi | 44 yrs |
Compared to the Riley Elf (76.9% pass rate) and the Riley 1.5 Litre (85.4% pass rate), the Riley 1.5 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Riley 1.5 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Riley 1.5Should you buy a used Riley 1.5?
The Riley 1.5 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.0% across 2,111 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 Riley 1.5 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (63 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (62), and brakes imbalanced across an axle (60). 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 Riley 1.5 owner drives around 382 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 Riley 1.5 models stay on UK roads for around 73 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.