Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Aston Martin Dbs?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2008 Aston Martin Dbs?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2008 Aston Martin Dbs?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2008 Aston Martin Dbs reliable?

Based on MOT data from 163 vehicles, the 2008 Aston Martin Dbs has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Aston Martin Dbs?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Aston Martin Dbs are: Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (26.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (25% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (24.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2008 Aston Martin Dbs?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Aston Martin Dbs (2008)

163 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.8% first-time pass rate

2008 Aston Martin Dbs

CarHunch analysed 163 real MOT records for the 2008 Aston Martin Dbs. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2008 Aston Martin DBS passes its MOT first time 87.3% of the time, a solid 7.3 points above the UK average, indicating these are generally well-maintained machines—though the 10.4% rate of dangerous defects is worth noting for any prospective buyer. The relatively low mileage (median 19,149 miles) suggests most surviving examples are cherished rather than thrashed, though at roughly 16 years old this figure does feel modest for the age.

With just over one failure per vehicle and 4.7 advisories on average, the DBS isn't trouble-free but the failure count is lean for a supercar of this complexity. Get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the cooling system and electrical ancillaries—these typically rack up the advisory warnings—and budget for ongoing specialist servicing to keep that above-average pass rate intact.

We have limited data for the 2008 Aston Martin Dbs — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

91.8%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

10.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.04

Over 11.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

19k

Middle half: 12k–27k

For context

These stats describe 163 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 163 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 26.2%

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 20.6%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Brake wear 13.4%

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules · Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 12.2%

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 9%

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 163 Aston Martin Dbs cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Aston Martin Dbs

Based on MOT data from 163 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Aston Martin Dbs vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

19,149

typical

11,968

low mileage

27,140

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Aston Martin Dbs vehicles fall between 11,968 and 27,140 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 11,968 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 11,968–27,140 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Aston Martin Dbss sit.

⚠ Over 36,639 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Aston Martin Dbs — Still on the Road

Most 2008 Aston Martin Dbss are still being driven.

Strong survival — 104 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 86% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

11.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.04

Avg failures per vehicle

4.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Aston Martin Dbs: All Dbs years → Which year to buy? →

2009 2010 2011 2012 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Aston Martin →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Aston Martin Dbs stacks up against a rival.

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