CarVerify

Rolls Royce 20HP Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Rolls Royce 20HP car check

Is the Rolls Royce 20HP reliable? We analysed 598 real MOT tests across 101 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Rolls Royce 20HP? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 598 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
96.5%
Typical Mileage
15,104mi
Annual Mileage
344mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
102yrs

The Rolls Royce 20HP is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include leaf spring anchor pin retaining device missing, brake linkage locking device missing and reflector missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rolls Royce 20HP.

Rolls Royce 20HP Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Rolls Royce 20HP. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Rolls Royce 20HP MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Rolls Royce 20HP to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

98.5%
1929
93.5%
1928
97.7%
1927
96.8%
1926
94.1%
1924

Rolls Royce 20HP Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Rolls Royce 20HP fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Leaf spring anchor pin retaining device missing 2
Brake linkage locking device missing 2
reflector missing 2
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 2
Steering retaining device missing 2
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2
brake recording little or no effort 2
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 2
suspension retaining device missing 2
Road wheel spoke excessively loose 1

Rolls Royce 20HP Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Rolls Royce 20HP owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
139 mi/yr
Typical
344 mi/yr
Average
2,120 mi/yr
Heavy usage
891 mi/yr

Rolls Royce 20HP MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rolls Royce 20HP year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1929 68 98.5% 19,621 28,487 47,493
1928 77 93.5% 31,218 54,794 65,404
1927 86 97.7% 3,558 8,160 42,999
1926 95 96.8% 2,826 6,669 12,607
1924 51 94.1% 4,080 7,660 22,170

How Long Does a Rolls Royce 20HP Last?

Based on 101 Rolls Royce 20HP vehicles on UK roads.

Average
72.9 years
Median
84.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
102 years

Rolls Royce 20HP Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Rolls Royce 20HP MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
15,104 mi
75th Percentile
42,999 mi
95th Percentile
81,207 mi
Max Recorded
99,165 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rolls Royce 20HP

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

Best year
1929

98.5% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

Year to avoid
1928

93.5% MOT pass rate from 77 tests

The best year to buy a used Rolls Royce 20HP is 1929, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.5% across 68 tests. The 1928 model year has the lowest pass rate at 93.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Rolls Royce 20HP Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Rolls Royce 20HP THIS CAR 96.5% 598 15,104 mi 102 yrs
Rolls Royce Silver Spirit 79.1% 34,506 71,622 mi 47 yrs
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 80.3% 16,278 62,466 mi 59 yrs
Rolls Royce Phantom 93.4% 14,291 29,293 mi 55 yrs
Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI 89.2% 1,110 41,363 mi — yrs

Compared to the Rolls Royce Silver Spirit (79.1% pass rate) and the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow (80.3% pass rate), the Rolls Royce 20HP outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Rolls Royce 20HP 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 Rolls Royce 20HP

Should you buy a used Rolls Royce 20HP?

The Rolls Royce 20HP has an overall MOT pass rate of 96.5% across 598 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 Rolls Royce 20HP are leaf spring anchor pin retaining device missing (2 recorded failures), brake linkage locking device missing (2), and reflector missing (2). 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 Rolls Royce 20HP owner drives around 344 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 Rolls Royce 20HP models stay on UK roads for around 102 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.

Rolls Royce 20HP — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rolls Royce 20HP reliable?
Based on 598 MOT tests, the Rolls Royce 20HP has a 96.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Rolls Royce 20HP?
The most common MOT failures are leaf spring anchor pin retaining device missing, brake linkage locking device missing, and reflector missing. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Rolls Royce 20HP do per year?
The typical Rolls Royce 20HP does around 344 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rolls Royce 20HP last?
Most Rolls Royce 20HP models stay on UK roads for around 102 years based on our analysis of 101 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rolls Royce 20HP?
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 Rolls Royce 20HP?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rolls Royce 20HP is 1929 with a 98.5% pass rate across 68 tests.