1981 Piaggio Vespa — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

94.1%

Latest Pass Rate

364

Total Tests (All Years)

16,003 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1981 Piaggio Vespa as it ages.

28 yrs65.0%

→ ↑28.2%

29 yrs93.2%

→ ↓11.4%

30 yrs81.8%

→ ↑1.1%

31 yrs82.9%

→ ↓9.4%

32 yrs73.5%

→ ↑14.7%

33 yrs88.2%

→ ↑5.1%

34 yrs93.3%

→ ↑1.6%

35 yrs94.9%

→ ↓9.2%

36 yrs85.7%

→ ↑8.4%

38 yrs94.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	65.0%	40
29 yrs	93.2%	44
30 yrs	81.8%	33
31 yrs	82.9%	41
32 yrs	73.5%	34
33 yrs	88.2%	34
34 yrs	93.3%	30
35 yrs	94.9%	39
36 yrs	85.7%	35
38 yrs	94.1%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Piaggio Vespa pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (38 yrs)	94.1%	34
2017 (36 yrs)	85.7%	35
2016 (35 yrs)	94.9%	39
2015 (34 yrs)	93.3%	30
2014 (33 yrs)	88.2%	34
2013 (32 yrs)	73.5%	34
2012 (31 yrs)	82.9%	41
2011 (30 yrs)	81.8%	33
2010 (29 yrs)	93.2%	44
2009 (28 yrs)	65%	40

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

65.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 40Avg Mileage 23,525Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 20.0%

2010

93.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 44Avg Mileage 22,554Top Failure Motorcycle brakes — 4.5%

2011

81.8%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 33Avg Mileage 14,611Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 18.2%

2012

82.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 41Avg Mileage 22,505Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.8%

2013

73.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 34Avg Mileage 20,238Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.8%

2014

88.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 34Avg Mileage 19,771Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension — 5.9%

2015

93.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 30Avg Mileage 18,356Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension — 3.3%

2016

94.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 39Avg Mileage 14,310Top Failure Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 5.1%

2017

85.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 35Avg Mileage 17,720Top Failure Motorcycle steering and suspension — 8.6%

2019

94.1%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 34Avg Mileage 16,003Top Failure Motorcycle brakes — 5.9%

MOT results for 1981 Piaggio Vespa by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	65.0%	40	23,525	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 20.0%
2010	29	93.2%	44	22,554	Motorcycle brakes — 4.5%
2011	30	81.8%	33	14,611	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 18.2%
2012	31	82.9%	41	22,505	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.8%
2013	32	73.5%	34	20,238	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.8%
2014	33	88.2%	34	19,771	Motorcycle steering and suspension — 5.9%
2015	34	93.3%	30	18,356	Motorcycle steering and suspension — 3.3%
2016	35	94.9%	39	14,310	Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 5.1%
2017	36	85.7%	35	17,720	Motorcycle steering and suspension — 8.6%
2019	38	94.1%	34	16,003	Motorcycle brakes — 5.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Piaggio Vespa, with age trends.

Motorcycle lighting and signalling

9.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Motorcycle brakes

6.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Motorcycle suspension

5.9%

— Consistent

Motorcycle steering and suspension

5.7%

— Consistent

Motorcycle reg plates and vin

4.7%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Motorcycle brakes	12.5% (28 yrs)	5.9% (38 yrs)	-6.6%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Piaggio Vespa page →

About This Data

This page shows how Piaggio Vespa cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 364 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.