VESPA (DOUGLAS) VESPA

124cc Petrol Class 1

#3513 of 5426 overall #22 of 30 VESPA (DOUGLAS)s #189 of 412 scooter bikes

80.3%

first-time pass rate

13.8%

failed outright

14,631

median miles at test

1,009

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2021

The VESPA's first-time pass rate has fallen 13.0 points since 2006, 83.6% to 70.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage VESPA passes first time 78.8% of the time; by 30k that's 77.6%.

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 VESPA

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	156	48.9	2.2×
steering and suspension	46	14.4	1.3×
brakes	45	14.1	0.8×
lamps and reflectors	19	6	0.7×
tyres and wheels	16	5	0.7×
body and structure	11	3.4	1.9×
reg plates and vin	11	3.4	1.6×
driving controls	9	2.8	3.8×
Items Not Tested	3	0.9	3.2×
audible warning (Horn)	3	0.9	1.6×

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 VESPA beats 1 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 VESPA.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1989 (80.6% pass). Weakest: 1990 (71.0%).

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) VESPA FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VESPA (DOUGLAS) VESPA reliable?

The VESPA (DOUGLAS) VESPA is more reliable than average for its class: 80.3% of its 1,009 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3513 of 5426 models.

What does a VESPA fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 49% of all defects recorded against failed VESPA tests.

What is the best year of VESPA to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1989-registered examples do best (80.6%) and 1990 worst (71.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VESPA last?

The median VESPA shows 14,631 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 77.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.