Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Piaggio Skipper?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Piaggio Skipper?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Piaggio Skipper?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2004 Piaggio Skipper reliable?

Based on MOT data from 704 vehicles, the 2004 Piaggio Skipper has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Piaggio Skipper?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Piaggio Skipper are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (34.1% of vehicles), Front suspension assembly has slight free play between the sliding members (31.9% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (27.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Piaggio Skipper?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Piaggio Skipper (2004)

704 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.7% first-time pass rate

2004 Piaggio Skipper

CarHunch analysed 704 real MOT records for the 2004 Piaggio Skipper. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Piaggio Skipper's first-time MOT pass rate of 76.7% falls below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these scooters are slightly less reliable than typical vehicles—though the dangerous defect rate of 19.3% is borderline concerning and worth investigating on any individual machine before purchase. Petrol scooters of this era tend to be mechanically simpler than cars, but this cohort shows the model struggles with consistent standards.

At nearly 9,500 miles average, these Skippers show modest usage for their age, yet they still average 1.77 failures and 4.2 advisories per test, pointing to accumulated wear on ageing components like brakes, lights, and suspension rather than catastrophic issues. Before buying, request the full MOT history to check whether failures cluster around specific systems—this will tell you if you're looking at a well-maintained example or one that's been neglected.

The 2004 Piaggio Skipper passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (76.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

76.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

19.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.77

Over 7.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

Middle half: 5k–12k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 704 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 704 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 34.1%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 31.9%

Front suspension assembly has slight free play between the sliding members · Steering headbearing has slight free play · Rear suspension bush has excessive free play · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 21.5%

Headlamp aim too high · Exhaust slightly deteriorated · Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Exhaust & emissions 19.2%

Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Brake wear 16.7%

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 704 Piaggio Skipper cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Piaggio Skipper

Based on MOT data from 704 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,423 Piaggio Skipper vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 35%

847

Black 25.8%

624

Silver 17.4%

422

Red 10.6%

257

Grey 4.8%

116

Green 3.6%

Purple 1.7%

Yellow 1.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Piaggio Skipper vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

8,580

typical

5,372

low mileage

12,208

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Piaggio Skipper vehicles fall between 5,372 and 12,208 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 5,372 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 5,372–12,208 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Piaggio Skippers sit.

⚠ Over 16,480 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Piaggio Skipper — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 2004 Piaggio Skippers are still active.

Numbers are declining — 12 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

7.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.77

Avg failures per vehicle

4.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Piaggio Skipper: All Skipper years → Which year to buy? →

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Average reliability — agree?