Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

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 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

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 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

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.

How many 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster reliable?

Based on MOT data from 228 vehicles, the 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (74.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.9% 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 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster?

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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Smart (mcc) Roadster (2006)

228 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.3% first-time pass rate

2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster

CarHunch analysed 228 real MOT records for the 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2006 Smart Roadster falls just slightly below the UK average with a 78.3% first-time pass rate, and notably one in four of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a genuine concern for any prospective buyer. The petrol-only model shows modest reliability overall, sitting just 1.7 percentage points below the national benchmark.

These Roadsters average 46,811 miles, which is reasonable for an 18-year-old car, but they're racking up over 22 advisories per vehicle on test, suggesting niggling wear issues are common. With 3.71 failures per vehicle and that elevated dangerous defect rate, budget for prompt repairs and get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on braking, steering, and suspension before committing to one.

We have limited data for the 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

78.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

24.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.71

Over 15.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

46k

Middle half: 29k–60k

For context

These stats describe 228 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 228 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 74.3%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Oil leak, but not excessive · …

Tyre wear 56%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front 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.

Brake wear 28.7%

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Lighting 27.5%

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim

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

Suspension & steering 23.2%

Offside Front coil spring corroded · Nearside Front coil spring corroded

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2006.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 228 Smart (mcc) Roadster cars.

Before you buy a 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster

Based on MOT data from 228 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.6% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,077 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 43.3%

899

Black 41.1%

853

Blue 5.5%

115

Red 4.2%

Yellow 3.4%

Grey 0.6%

Orange 0.6%

Gold 0.5%

White 0.3%

Green 0.2%

Purple 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster 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.

45,545

typical

28,771

low mileage

60,038

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster vehicles fall between 28,771 and 60,038 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 28,771 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.

✓ 28,771–60,038 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadsters sit.

⚠ Over 81,051 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 56% of 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadsters are still active.

102 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 56% of the peak remain.

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

15.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.71

Avg failures per vehicle

22.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart (mcc) Roadster: All Roadster years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2004 2005

Or browse all models: Smart (mcc) →

Compare with another model

See how the 2006 Smart (mcc) Roadster stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?