VESPA (DOUGLAS) SCOOTER
The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.
“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.
Pass rate over time
The SCOOTER's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.7 points since 2006, 83.3% to 80.6%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage SCOOTER passes first time 77.8% of the time; by 30k that's 85.1%.
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 SCOOTER
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
75 | 45.7 | 1.7× |
| brakes |
|
34 | 20.7 | 0.9× |
| steering and suspension |
|
23 | 14 | 1.1× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
11 | 6.7 | 0.8× |
| body and structure |
|
5 | 3 | 1.8× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
5 | 3 | 0.3× |
| driving controls |
|
4 | 2.4 | 2.2× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
4 | 2.4 | 1.2× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
2 | 1.2 | 0.5× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
1 | 0.6 | 0.8× |
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
On first-time pass rate the SCOOTER beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, HONDA Vision 110).
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 SCOOTER.
Compare with any bike
More VESPA (DOUGLAS) models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1983 (90.7% pass). Weakest: 1981 (87.5%).
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) SCOOTER FAQ
Is the VESPA (DOUGLAS) SCOOTER reliable?
The VESPA (DOUGLAS) SCOOTER is more reliable than average for its class: 80.8% of its 568 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3418 of 5428 models.
What does a SCOOTER fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 46% of all defects recorded against failed SCOOTER tests.
How many miles will a SCOOTER last?
The median SCOOTER shows 14,846 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 85.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
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