Vespa 125 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 306 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 25.5%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Vespa 125 MOT Reliability Overview
The Vespa 125 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 306 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.5% and a failure rate of 25.5%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Vespa 125 earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Vespa 125 presents for MOT with approximately 11,790 miles on the clock.
The most common MOT failure for the Vespa 125 is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 14.4% of all tests. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lamps and reflectors at 13.4%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 7.5%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 16.3% | 50 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 13.4% | 41 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 8.5% | 26 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Brakes | 6.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 2.9% | 9 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Suspension | 2.6% | 8 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Tyres | 2.6% | 8 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 2.3% | 7 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.6% | 5 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Steering | 1.6% | 5 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.3% | 4 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 1.3% | 4 |
| 13 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.7% | 2 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.7% | 2 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Wheels | 0.3% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 11,790 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 13.86 | 16.3% | 50 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 11.36 | 13.4% | 41 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 7.21 | 8.5% | 26 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 5.82 | 6.9% | 21 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 2.49 | 2.9% | 9 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 2.22 | 2.6% | 8 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 2.22 | 2.6% | 8 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 1.94 | 2.3% | 7 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.39 | 1.6% | 5 |
| Motorcycle steering | 1.39 | 1.6% | 5 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 1.11 | 1.3% | 4 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 1.11 | 1.3% | 4 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.55 | 0.7% | 2 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.55 | 0.7% | 2 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.28 | 0.3% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Vespa 125 has 11,790 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Vespa 125 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 21.63% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Vespa 125 MOT Data
The Vespa 125 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 306 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.5% and a failure rate of 25.5%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Vespa 125 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lighting and signalling and motorcycle lamps and reflectors for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 125 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 14.4% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 14.4% of MOT failures on the Vespa 125. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 13.4% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 13.4% of MOT failures on the Vespa 125. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 7.5% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 7.5% of MOT failures on the Vespa 125. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Vespa 125?
Based on 306 MOT tests in our database, the Vespa 125 has an overall pass rate of 74.5% (25.5% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Vespa 125?
The top 3 reasons a Vespa 125 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (14.4%), 2. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (13.4%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (7.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Vespa 125 reliable?
With a 25.5% MOT failure rate, the 125 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Vespa 125?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (14.4%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (13.4%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (7.5%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.