VESPA (DOUGLAS) VESPA
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 VESPA's first-time pass rate has fallen 12.7 points since 2006, 83.3% to 70.6%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage VESPA passes first time 78.2% 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
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
156 | 48.9 | 2.3× |
| 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× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
11 | 3.4 | 1.6× |
| body and structure |
|
11 | 3.4 | 1.9× |
| driving controls |
|
9 | 2.8 | 3.8× |
| wheels |
|
3 | 0.9 | 5.0× |
| Items Not Tested |
|
3 | 0.9 | 3.3× |
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 VESPA beats 1 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 VESPA.
Compare with any bike
More VESPA (DOUGLAS) models
Pass rate by registration year
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
Is the VESPA (DOUGLAS) VESPA reliable?
The VESPA (DOUGLAS) VESPA is more reliable than average for its class: 80.1% of its 995 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3557 of 5428 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 14,859 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 77.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
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