CarVerify

Vincent Rapide Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Vincent Rapide car check

Is the Vincent Rapide reliable? We analysed 1,545 real MOT tests across 347 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Vincent Rapide? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 1,545 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
95.0%
Typical Mileage
12,490mi
Annual Mileage
429mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
79yrs

The Vincent Rapide is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include horn not working, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vincent Rapide.

Vincent Rapide Number Plates

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

Vincent Rapide MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

93.2%
1955
96%
1954
97.1%
1953
96.1%
1952
92.1%
1951
95.6%
1950
92.7%
1949
96.7%
1948
96.4%
1947

Vincent Rapide Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Horn not working 6
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 4
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 3
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 3
Floor brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 2
Headlamp aim not tested 2
Tyre is unsuitable 2
Wheel has an excessively distorted bead rim. 2
Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s 2
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on main beam 2

Vincent Rapide Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
121 mi/yr
Typical
429 mi/yr
Average
1,250 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,067 mi/yr

Vincent Rapide MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1955 59 93.2% 3,327 17,383 30,598
1954 75 96.0% 12,299 25,767 31,062
1953 104 97.1% 8,157 14,758 37,232
1952 155 96.1% 10,007 20,150 35,630
1951 240 92.1% 2,838 8,478 31,788
1950 206 95.6% 4,106 17,536 28,055
1949 137 92.7% 2,472 9,771 21,650
1948 90 96.7% 4,047 8,776 29,538
1947 56 96.4% 3,846 11,262 24,294

How Long Does a Vincent Rapide Last?

Based on 347 Vincent Rapide vehicles on UK roads.

Average
50.3 years
Median
59.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
79 years

Vincent Rapide Mileage Distribution

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

Median
12,490 mi
75th Percentile
30,580 mi
95th Percentile
67,152 mi
Max Recorded
258,513 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vincent Rapide

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

Best year
1953

97.1% MOT pass rate from 104 tests

Year to avoid
1951

92.1% MOT pass rate from 240 tests

The best year to buy a used Vincent Rapide is 1953, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 97.1% across 104 tests. The 1951 model year has the lowest pass rate at 92.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vincent Rapide Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vincent Rapide THIS CAR 95.0% 1,545 12,490 mi 79 yrs
Vincent Comet 92.7% 1,663 8,144 mi 76 yrs
Vincent Black Shadow 94.2% 773 13,284 mi 76 yrs
Renault Captur Iconic ED E-tech HEV A 92.5% 654 21,784 mi — yrs
Yamaha XV1900 91.1% 957 19,167 mi 20 yrs

Compared to the Vincent Comet (92.7% pass rate) and the Vincent Black Shadow (94.2% pass rate), the Vincent Rapide outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Vincent Rapide 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 Vincent Rapide

Should you buy a used Vincent Rapide?

The Vincent Rapide has an overall MOT pass rate of 95.0% across 1,545 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 Vincent Rapide are horn not working (6 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (4), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (3). 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 Vincent Rapide owner drives around 429 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 Vincent Rapide models stay on UK roads for around 79 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.

Vincent Rapide — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vincent Rapide reliable?
Based on 1,545 MOT tests, the Vincent Rapide has a 95.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Vincent Rapide?
The most common MOT failures are horn not working, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vincent Rapide do per year?
The typical Vincent Rapide does around 429 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vincent Rapide last?
Most Vincent Rapide models stay on UK roads for around 79 years based on our analysis of 347 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vincent Rapide?
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 Vincent Rapide?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vincent Rapide is 1953 with a 97.1% pass rate across 104 tests.