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 T5's first-time pass rate has risen 10.2 points since 2006, 75.0% to 85.2%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage T5 passes first time 84.1% of the time; by 40k that's 73.5%.
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
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
98 | 37 | 1.3× |
| steering and suspension |
|
51 | 19.2 | 1.3× |
| brakes |
|
35 | 13.2 | 0.6× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
32 | 12.1 | 1.1× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
17 | 6.4 | 0.7× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
8 | 3 | 1.4× |
| tyres |
|
7 | 2.6 | 1.0× |
| steering |
|
6 | 2.3 | 1.4× |
| body and structure |
|
6 | 2.3 | 0.8× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
5 | 1.9 | 0.6× |
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
On first-time pass rate the T5 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 T5.
Compare with any bike
More VESPA models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1998 (89.6% pass). Weakest: 1989 (78.0%).
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 T5 FAQ
Is the VESPA T5 reliable?
The VESPA T5 is more reliable than average for its class: 80.8% of its 1,034 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3418 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, 1998-registered examples do best (89.6%) and 1989 worst (78.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a T5 last?
The median T5 shows 16,188 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 73.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
Embed this bike
Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Vespa T5 reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.