Piaggio Vespa MOT pass rate & common failures

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

0.3 points above the fleet average of 86.5%.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Piaggio Vespa tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several, so these do not sum to 100%.

1. 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements25.0%

   335 occurrences

2. 2.A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED10.3%

   138 occurrences

3. 3.A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning6.1%

   82 occurrences

4. 4.A lamp missing or inoperative5.8%

   78 occurrences

5. 5.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning5.7%

   76 occurrences

6. 6.A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED5.5%

   74 occurrences

7. 7.Brake control has insufficient reserve travel4.8%

   64 occurrences

8. 8.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm4.7%

   63 occurrences

9. 9.Exhaust system leaking or insecure4.6%

   61 occurrences

10. 10.A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps4.4%

    59 occurrences

11. 11.Headlamp aim unable to be tested4.4%

    59 occurrences

12. 12.Steering head bearings excessively stiff, notchy, or with excessive wear or play4.4%

    59 occurrences

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Piaggio Vespa tests carrying each advisory.

1. 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements5.2%

   921 tests

2. 2.A wheel bearing with excessive play2.6%

   456 tests

3. 3.A main load-bearing structural member corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced2.3%

   411 tests

4. 4.Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted1.8%

   316 tests

5. 5.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements1.6%

   276 tests

6. 6.Steering head bearings excessively stiff, notchy, or with excessive wear or play1.4%

   240 tests

7. 7.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm1.3%

   234 tests

8. 8.Exhaust system leaking or insecure1.2%

   211 tests

How wear changes the picture

Vespa pass rate by age and registration year

What gets tested

The Vespa fleet

Average mileage recorded at test

10,905

Test classes

class 1: 10,759 · class 2: 6,885

Compare within the range

Other Piaggio motorcycles

• Piaggio ZIP76.2% raw
• Piaggio Liberty 12576.3% raw
• Piaggio PX 125 (vespa)85.7% raw
• Piaggio PX 200 E90.6% raw
• Piaggio T589.1% raw
• Piaggio FLY79.6% raw
• All Piaggio motorcycles

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a Piaggio Vespa?

86.8% once adjusted for the age and mileage of the motorcycles tested, ranking 26 of 36 motorcycle models, from 17,644 DVSA tests. The average across all motorcycles is 86.5%.

What does a Piaggio Vespa fail its MOT on?

"Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" is recorded in 25.0% of failed Piaggio Vespa tests, followed by "A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED" (10.3%). One failed test often lists several items.

What mileage does a Piaggio Vespa usually have at its MOT?

10,905 miles on average across every age tested, so a description of the fleet rather than an annual figure. Motorcycle mileages are low and vary enormously with use; a commuter bike and a weekend bike of the same age can differ by a factor of ten.