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League table/ VESPA (DOUGLAS)/T5
Model report · 2005–2025

VESPA (DOUGLAS) T5

123cc Petrol Class 1
#3318 of 5428 overall #18 of 30 VESPA (DOUGLAS)s #171 of 412 scooter bikes
81.3%
first-time pass rate
10.4%
failed outright
16,044
median miles at test
2,964
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+4.7pp
vs expected · age & mileage

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

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The T5's first-time pass rate has risen 17.0 points since 2006, 77.0% to 94.0%.

71%85%99%2006: 77.0% pass (161 tests)2007: 79.4% pass (160 tests)2008: 76.5% pass (166 tests)2009: 80.9% pass (162 tests)2010: 76.7% pass (159 tests)2011: 79.8% pass (188 tests)2012: 79.6% pass (201 tests)2013: 75.4% pass (195 tests)2014: 83.9% pass (211 tests)2015: 82.4% pass (188 tests)2016: 84.8% pass (171 tests)2017: 82.2% pass (169 tests)2018: 83.1% pass (118 tests)2019: 80.0% pass (100 tests)2020: 88.8% pass (89 tests)2021: 82.1% pass (117 tests)2022: 84.9% pass (119 tests)2023: 78.8% pass (104 tests)2024: 88.5% pass (87 tests)2025: 94.0% pass (84 tests)20062025

Pass rate by mileage

how the T5's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage T5 passes first time 83.0% of the time; by 50k that's 70.0%.

67%78%89%0k: 83.0% pass (670 tests)10k: 81.8% pass (1,267 tests)20k: 80.3% pass (691 tests)30k: 76.7% pass (193 tests)40k: 85.9% pass (71 tests)50k: 70.0% pass (30 tests)0k30k50k

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 T5

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
255 37.4 1.3×
steering and suspension
132 19.4 1.0×
brakes
102 15 0.6×
lamps and reflectors
68 10 0.7×
tyres and wheels
53 7.8 0.8×
fuel and exhaust
18 2.6 0.6×
reg plates and vin
18 2.6 0.9×
steering
13 1.9 1.0×
suspension
12 1.8 0.4×
body and structure
10 1.5 0.7×

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 T5 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (PIAGGIO VESPA, HONDA PCX 125, HONDA Vision 110).

PIAGGIO VESPA 80.7% pass · 287k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA PCX 125 81.1% pass · 88.6k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA Vision 110 78.1% pass · 50.9k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA NMAX 125 82.2% pass · 33.8k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 T5.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the T5

More VESPA (DOUGLAS) models

other VESPA (DOUGLAS) bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
VESPA (DOUGLAS) PX125 80.4% pass · 3,280 tests
VESPA (DOUGLAS) P200E 85.0% pass · 3,111 tests
VESPA (DOUGLAS) PX125E 79.5% pass · 1,711 tests
VESPA (DOUGLAS) DOUGLAS 84.0% pass · 1,608 tests
VESPA (DOUGLAS) PX 82.5% pass · 1,533 tests
VESPA (DOUGLAS) 125 76.5% pass · 1,002 tests

See all VESPA (DOUGLAS) models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1988 (86.0% pass). Weakest: 1992 (74.0%).

72%80%88%1985: 80.5% pass (118 tests)1986: 85.3% pass (184 tests)1987: 84.3% pass (313 tests)1988: 86.0% pass (456 tests)1989: 81.8% pass (603 tests)1990: 79.2% pass (366 tests)1991: 77.7% pass (251 tests)1992: 74.0% pass (242 tests)1993: 79.5% pass (161 tests)198519891993

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) T5 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VESPA (DOUGLAS) T5 reliable?

The VESPA (DOUGLAS) T5 is more reliable than average for its class: 81.3% of its 2,964 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3318 of 5428 models.

What does a T5 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 37% of all defects recorded against failed T5 tests.

What is the best year of T5 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1988-registered examples do best (86.0%) and 1992 worst (74.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a T5 last?

The median T5 shows 16,044 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 70.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.

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