VESPA (DOUGLAS) DOUGLAS

124cc Petrol Class 1

#2749 of 5426 overall #11 of 30 VESPA (DOUGLAS)s #129 of 412 scooter bikes

84.0%

first-time pass rate

10.9%

failed outright

13,690

median miles at test

1,610

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2024

The DOUGLAS's first-time pass rate has risen 10.8 points since 2006, 82.5% to 93.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the DOUGLAS's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage DOUGLAS passes first time 85.1% of the time; by 30k that's 80.2%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a DOUGLAS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	171	43.6	1.4×
brakes	70	17.9	0.8×
steering and suspension	66	16.8	1.2×
tyres and wheels	26	6.6	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	19	4.8	0.4×
reg plates and vin	13	3.3	1.3×
body and structure	9	2.3	1.2×
driving controls	7	1.8	1.9×
fuel and exhaust	7	1.8	0.6×
steering	4	1	0.6×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the DOUGLAS beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, HONDA Vision 110).

PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests HONDA PCX 125 81.1% pass · 88.6k tests HONDA Vision 110 78.2% pass · 50.6k tests YAMAHA NMAX 125 82.2% pass · 33.8k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the DOUGLAS.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1980 (89.2% pass). Weakest: 1991 (76.5%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

VESPA (DOUGLAS) DOUGLAS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VESPA (DOUGLAS) DOUGLAS reliable?

The VESPA (DOUGLAS) DOUGLAS is more reliable than average for its class: 84.0% of its 1,610 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #2749 of 5426 models.

What does a DOUGLAS fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 44% of all defects recorded against failed DOUGLAS tests.

What is the best year of DOUGLAS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1980-registered examples do best (89.2%) and 1991 worst (76.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a DOUGLAS last?

The median DOUGLAS shows 13,690 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 80.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.