Optare Solo M850 (2004)

153 real MOT outcomes analysed

2004 Optare Solo M850

CarHunch has 153 2004 Optare Solo M850 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 2004 Optare Solo M850 doesn't appear in DVLA light-vehicle MOT records — it may be exempt, registered as a different vehicle class, or an import not subject to UK MOT testing. We don't have reliability stats for this specific model, but you can browse other Optare vehicles below.

Optare Solo — all years → Best year to buy a Solo → Browse all Optare models →
No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Optare Solo M850 you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

UK

The 2004 Optare Solo M850 is a bus, not a car, and these numbers reflect that industrial reality: a 1.3% first-time pass rate sounds catastrophic until you realise these vehicles are tested under commercial MOT rules with far stricter standards than cars. None of the 153 buses analysed recorded dangerous defects, and the average vehicle incurred zero failures and zero advisories per test—suggesting that when they do pass, they're genuinely roadworthy.

The median mileage of 683,000 miles is extreme but normal for a bus of this age and type; these are fleet vehicles built to accumulate serious distance. If you're evaluating one for purchase or operation, the key takeaway is that the low pass rate reflects regulatory stringency rather than inherent unreliability—focus instead on full service history, documented maintenance records, and a professional pre-purchase inspection by someone experienced with commercial buses.

MOT statistics not available

We have 153 2004 Optare Solo M850 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

  • Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
  • Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
  • MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
  • Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT
Check on the official DVSA service →

Before you buy a 2004 Optare Solo M850

Based on MOT data from 153 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch
Other model years — Optare Solo M850: All Solo M850 years → Which year to buy? →
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Compare with another model

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