Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium?

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 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium?

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 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium?

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 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium reliable?

Based on MOT data from 383 vehicles, the 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium?

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 Eq Forfour Premium (2021)

383 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.8% first-time pass rate

2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium

CarHunch analysed 383 real MOT records for the 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 383 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2021 Smart EQ Forfour Premium passes its MOT first time in 85.4% of cases, which is 5.4 percentage points above the UK average—a solid result that suggests these are well-maintained vehicles overall. The dangerous defect rate of 5% is reassuringly low, so structural or safety issues are uncommon in this cohort.

At just under 12,800 miles median, these cars are lightly used for their age, which explains why they average only 0.26 failures per vehicle. The 1.1 advisories per car point to minor wear rather than serious mechanical trouble—typical stuff for a small electric city car at this mileage. Before buying, get a full pre-purchase inspection to confirm the battery health and charging system, since EV-specific faults won't always show up on a standard MOT.

The 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (90.8% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass

90.8%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.26

Over 2.1 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

13k

Middle half: 9k–18k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90.8% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 383 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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See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 383 Smart Eq Forfour Premium cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium

Based on MOT data from 383 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 5% 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 745 Smart Eq Forfour Premium vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 51%

380

White 20.1%

150

Silver 9.8%

Grey 9.5%

Red 4.8%

Blue 3.2%

Orange 1.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium 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.

12,827

typical

8,718

low mileage

18,193

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium vehicles fall between 8,718 and 18,193 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 8,718 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.

✓ 8,718–18,193 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premiums sit.

⚠ Over 24,560 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.26

Avg failures per vehicle

1.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Smart Eq Forfour Premium: All Eq Forfour Premium years → Which year to buy? →

2022

Or browse all models: Smart →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Smart Eq Forfour Premium stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?