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Piaggio Vespa S 125 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Piaggio Vespa S 125 car check

Is the Piaggio Vespa S 125 reliable? We analysed 2,576 real MOT tests across 314 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,576 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.2%
Typical Mileage
10,963mi
Annual Mileage
858mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
19yrs

The Piaggio Vespa S 125 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Piaggio Vespa S 125.

Piaggio Vespa S 125 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Piaggio Vespa S 125. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Piaggio Vespa S 125 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Piaggio Vespa S 125 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

83.5%
2012
86.6%
2011
84.5%
2010
82.4%
2009
82%
2008
82.1%
2007

Piaggio Vespa S 125 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Piaggio Vespa S 125 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 86
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 22
Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel 18
Headlamp aim too low 15
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 12
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 12
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 11
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 11

Piaggio Vespa S 125 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Piaggio Vespa S 125 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 35

Piaggio Vespa S 125 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Piaggio Vespa S 125 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
290 mi/yr
Typical
858 mi/yr
Average
1,522 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,069 mi/yr

Piaggio Vespa S 125 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Piaggio Vespa S 125 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 231 83.5% 6,490 9,723 15,520
2011 261 86.6% 5,850 13,114 18,589
2010 386 84.5% 5,500 12,170 20,967
2009 709 82.4% 5,161 10,473 16,641
2008 874 82.0% 5,515 10,978 18,000
2007 78 82.1% 3,892 9,046 16,060

How Long Does a Piaggio Vespa S 125 Last?

Based on 314 Piaggio Vespa S 125 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.9 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
19 years

Piaggio Vespa S 125 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Piaggio Vespa S 125 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
10,963 mi
75th Percentile
17,916 mi
95th Percentile
33,344 mi
Max Recorded
210,526 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Piaggio Vespa S 125

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2011

86.6% MOT pass rate from 261 tests

Year to avoid
2008

82.0% MOT pass rate from 874 tests

The best year to buy a used Piaggio Vespa S 125 is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.6% across 261 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Piaggio Vespa S 125 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Piaggio Vespa S 125 THIS CAR 83.2% 2,576 10,963 mi 19 yrs
Piaggio Vespa 83.8% 355,016 10,772 mi 30 yrs
Piaggio Zip 77% 101,622 9,391 mi 29 yrs
Piaggio Nrg 72.9% 52,129 10,153 mi 27 yrs
Renault G-modus Dynamique DCI 86 73% 1,883 70,283 mi 18 yrs

Compared to the Piaggio Vespa (83.8% pass rate) and the Piaggio Zip (77.0% pass rate), the Piaggio Vespa S 125 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Piaggio Vespa S 125?

The Piaggio Vespa S 125 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.2% across 2,576 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Piaggio Vespa S 125 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (86 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (22), and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel (18). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Piaggio Vespa S 125 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Piaggio Vespa S 125 owner drives around 858 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Piaggio Vespa S 125 models stay on UK roads for around 19 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Piaggio Vespa S 125 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Piaggio Vespa S 125 reliable?
Based on 2,576 MOT tests, the Piaggio Vespa S 125 has a 83.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Piaggio Vespa S 125?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Piaggio Vespa S 125 do per year?
The typical Piaggio Vespa S 125 does around 858 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Piaggio Vespa S 125 last?
Most Piaggio Vespa S 125 models stay on UK roads for around 19 years based on our analysis of 314 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Piaggio Vespa S 125?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Piaggio Vespa S 125?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Piaggio Vespa S 125 is 2011 with a 86.6% pass rate across 261 tests.