Rover Princess Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rover Princess car check
Is the Rover Princess reliable? We analysed 778 real MOT tests across 141 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rover Princess? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rover Princess is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, brake recording little or no effort and service brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover Princess.
Rover Princess Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rover Princess. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rover Princess MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rover Princess to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rover Princess Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rover Princess fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rover Princess Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rover Princess owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rover Princess MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover Princess year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 63 | 66.7% | 29,869 | 73,933 | 86,284 |
| 1973 | 58 | 79.3% | 37,085 | 47,527 | 63,594 |
| 1972 | 87 | 71.3% | 32,509 | 48,120 | 64,498 |
| 1971 | 58 | 67.2% | 17,627 | 38,142 | 60,624 |
| 1967 | 60 | 76.7% | 61,599 | 80,788 | 87,139 |
| 1965 | 50 | 84.0% | 21,232 | 23,192 | 41,772 |
How Long Does a Rover Princess Last?
Based on 141 Rover Princess vehicles on UK roads.
Rover Princess Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rover Princess 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 Rover Princess
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests
66.7% MOT pass rate from 63 tests
The best year to buy a used Rover Princess is 1965, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.0% across 50 tests. The 1979 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Rover Princess Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover Princess THIS CAR | 77.6% | 778 | 55,064 mi | 61 yrs |
| Rover 25 | 72.1% | 1,784,341 | 53,712 mi | 26 yrs |
| Rover 75 | 70.7% | 1,365,354 | 77,595 mi | 27 yrs |
| Rover 214 | 67.6% | 1,033,973 | 75,438 mi | 36 yrs |
| Kawasaki Z440 | 84.1% | 905 | 27,686 mi | 45 yrs |
Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover Princess outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Rover Princess 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 Rover PrincessShould you buy a used Rover Princess?
The Rover Princess has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.6% across 778 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 Rover Princess are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (31 recorded failures), brake recording little or no effort (25), and service brake: efficiency below requirements (22). 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 Rover Princess owner drives around 326 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 Rover Princess models stay on UK roads for around 61 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.