Alfa Romeo 146 (1997)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 66 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£2,761

£230/month

MOT Pass Rate

58%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£375

Estimated/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 18-32

1970cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

58% pass rate, £2,761/year to run. 24 points below average.

Buying this car? Check for finance, write-offs & theft

£4.99

Check a specific Alfa Romeo 146

Enter a reg plate for full MOT history, mileage check, health score, running costs, and reliability data. Free, instant, no signup.

Petrol1970cc29 years old66 tests74k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1970cc)

~36 mpg

£1,631

Road Tax

Pre-2001 engine size rate

£375

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£700

Total per year£2,761

Per month£230/mo

Per week£53/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

Reliability Verdict

58% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 24 points below the average of 82% across all models in our data. It falls below the Alfa Romeo brand average of 80%.

58% of MOT tests on Alfa Romeo 146s from 1997 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 27 years old. That's based on 66 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 73,877 miles.

Got a Alfa Romeo 146 you're looking at?

Enter the reg plate to check its specific MOT history, mileage, and health score.

How Does It Compare?

Rank among 1997 models302nd of 306(bottom 2%)

Rank among Alfa Romeo models158th of 158(bottom 1%)

vs average of all models-24%(82% avg)

vs 1997 models average-17%(75% avg)

vs Alfa Romeo average-22%(80% avg)

Mileage Analysis

73,877

Average miles

199,800

Expected for age

The average 1997 Alfa Romeo 146 had 73,877 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is significantly below the expected 199,800 miles for a 27-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.

Looking at a specific Alfa Romeo 146?

Enter its reg plate for a free check with full MOT history, mileage verification, and predicted costs.

Alfa Romeo 146 by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
1997	58%	66	73,877 mi
1996	73%	30	117,974 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Mazda MX-5

1999 · 1600cc Petrol

£2,328/year

73%

+15%

Volkswagen Golf

1999 · 1781cc Petrol

£2,561/year

71%

+13%

BMW 3 Series

1998 · 1796cc Petrol

£2,561/year

79%

+21%

BMW Z3

1997 · 1900cc Petrol

£2,561/year

75%

+17%

Check a Specific Alfa Romeo 146

Enter a reg plate to get the full MOT history, health score, and mileage verification.

Upgrade to Premium (£4.99) for stolen, finance, and write-off checks.

About the 1997 Alfa Romeo 146

The 1997 Alfa Romeo 146 is a premium car. Our records list a 1970cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 66 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 2% of 1997 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 73,877 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Alfa Romeo 146 owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver. Very low mileage could mean the car has been garaged or used only for short trips, which can cause its own issues like battery drain and moisture buildup.

1997 Alfa Romeo 146 Fuel Costs

The 1970cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 36 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,631 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 1997 Alfa Romeo 146?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,761 (£230/month), broken down as £1,631 fuel, £375 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 58% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

Buying a Used 1997 Alfa Romeo 146

At 29 years old, the Alfa Romeo 146 is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. Note: with only 66 tests in our data, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Timing Chain / Belt

Watch out

At 29 years old, check whether the timing belt has been replaced (typically due every 5-7 years or 60,000-100,000 miles). A snapped belt can destroy the engine.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Higher Than Average Failure Rate

Watch out

With a 58% MOT pass rate, this model fails more often than most. Budget for unexpected repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 1997 Alfa Romeo 146 stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Alfa Romeo 146(1997)	58%	£1,631	£375	Grp 18-32	£2,761
Mazda MX-5(1999)	73%	£1,398	£375	Grp 12-25	£2,328-£433
Volkswagen Golf(1999)	71%	£1,631	£375	Grp 18-32	£2,561-£200
BMW 3 Series(1998)	79%	£1,631	£375	Grp 18-32	£2,561-£200
BMW Z3(1997)	75%	£1,631	£375	Grp 18-32	£2,561-£200

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 1997 Alfa Romeo 146

Is the 1997 Alfa Romeo 146 reliable?

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. 58% of MOT tests on 1997 Alfa Romeo 146s ended in a pass, from 66 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 24 points below the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 1997 Alfa Romeo 146 cost to run?

Our estimate is £2,761 a year (£230 a month): £1,631 fuel, £375 road tax, £55 MOT and £700 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 1997 Alfa Romeo 146?

58% of 66 MOT tests on the 1997 Alfa Romeo 146 ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 302nd of 306 models first registered in 1997 (bottom 2%).

What is the average mileage for a 1997 Alfa Romeo 146?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 1997 Alfa Romeo 146 is 73,877 miles, which is significantly below the expected 199,800 miles for a 27-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.