VESPA DOUGLAS

125cc Petrol Class 1

#3199 of 5426 overall #9 of 14 VESPAs #165 of 412 scooter bikes

81.9%

first-time pass rate

10.7%

failed outright

13,673

median miles at test

2,442

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The DOUGLAS's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.5 points since 2005, 85.3% to 83.8%.

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 50k that's 63.4%.

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	297	45.1	1.6×
steering and suspension	119	18.1	1.2×
brakes	112	17	0.7×
tyres and wheels	30	4.6	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	27	4.1	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	20	3	1.0×
reg plates and vin	16	2.4	1.0×
body and structure	15	2.3	1.3×
driving controls	13	2	2.3×
steering	9	1.4	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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the DOUGLAS beats 3 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: 1961 (91.5% pass). Weakest: 1970 (72.2%).

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 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VESPA DOUGLAS reliable?

The VESPA DOUGLAS is more reliable than average for its class: 81.9% of its 2,442 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3199 of 5426 models.

What does a DOUGLAS fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 45% of all defects recorded against failed DOUGLAS tests.

What is the best year of DOUGLAS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1961-registered examples do best (91.5%) and 1970 worst (72.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a DOUGLAS last?

The median DOUGLAS shows 13,673 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 63.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.