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Vanden Plas Princess Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vanden Plas Princess car check

Is the Vanden Plas Princess reliable? We analysed 2,229 real MOT tests across 266 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,229 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.5%
Typical Mileage
55,893mi
Annual Mileage
324mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
65yrs

The Vanden Plas Princess is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and brake binding. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vanden Plas Princess.

Vanden Plas Princess Number Plates

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

Vanden Plas Princess MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

85.7%
1968
79.2%
1967
75.8%
1966
78.1%
1965
79.3%
1964
82.3%
1963
87%
1962
77.6%
1961

Vanden Plas Princess Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Vanden Plas Princess fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 77
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 63
brake binding 57
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 51
Stop lamp not working 48
brake recording little or no effort 43
position lamp(s) not working 40
parking brake recording little or no effort 33
Registration plate lamp not working 33
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 31

Vanden Plas Princess Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
104 mi/yr
Typical
324 mi/yr
Average
937 mi/yr
Heavy usage
827 mi/yr

Vanden Plas Princess MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1968 112 85.7% 14,212 38,414 62,887
1967 197 79.2% 40,078 49,898 75,724
1966 372 75.8% 26,675 64,268 82,786
1965 256 78.1% 38,592 65,052 76,224
1964 358 79.3% 39,784 61,853 75,059
1963 186 82.3% 20,598 42,978 79,786
1962 231 87.0% 53,193 59,692 83,146
1961 228 77.6% 16,532 41,648 76,566

How Long Does a Vanden Plas Princess Last?

Based on 266 Vanden Plas Princess vehicles on UK roads.

Average
48.6 years
Median
50.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
65 years

Vanden Plas Princess Mileage Distribution

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

Median
55,893 mi
75th Percentile
76,772 mi
95th Percentile
92,003 mi
Max Recorded
967,752 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vanden Plas Princess

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

Best year
1962

87.0% MOT pass rate from 231 tests

Year to avoid
1966

75.8% MOT pass rate from 372 tests

The best year to buy a used Vanden Plas Princess is 1962, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.0% across 231 tests. The 1966 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vanden Plas Princess Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vanden Plas Princess THIS CAR 80.5% 2,229 55,893 mi 65 yrs
Vanden Plas 1300 Princess 75.5% 1,533 53,236 mi 58 yrs
Vanden Plas 1500 72.4% 897 53,545 mi 51 yrs
Honda NH80 81.1% 1,569 4,819 mi 44 yrs
Ducati Multistrada 1200 S 89% 2,218 13,323 mi 16 yrs

Compared to the Vanden Plas 1300 Princess (75.5% pass rate) and the Vanden Plas 1500 (72.4% pass rate), the Vanden Plas Princess outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Vanden Plas Princess?

The Vanden Plas Princess has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.5% across 2,229 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 Vanden Plas Princess are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (77 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (63), and brake binding (57). 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 Vanden Plas Princess owner drives around 324 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 Vanden Plas Princess models stay on UK roads for around 65 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.

Vanden Plas Princess — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vanden Plas Princess reliable?
Based on 2,229 MOT tests, the Vanden Plas Princess has a 80.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Vanden Plas Princess?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and brake binding. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vanden Plas Princess do per year?
The typical Vanden Plas Princess does around 324 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vanden Plas Princess last?
Most Vanden Plas Princess models stay on UK roads for around 65 years based on our analysis of 266 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vanden Plas Princess?
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 Vanden Plas Princess?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vanden Plas Princess is 1962 with a 87.0% pass rate across 231 tests.