Piaggio Vespa (1982)
1982 Piaggio Vespa
CarHunch analysed 113 real MOT records for the 1982 Piaggio Vespa. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1982 Piaggio Vespa passes its MOT at 88.7%, well ahead of the UK average of 80%, which is a genuinely strong result for a machine over 40 years old. Only 9.7% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, so safety issues are not a widespread concern for this classic scooter.
These Vespas are running at sensible mileage for their age (median 16,566 miles), and they're generating just 0.73 failures per test on average—suggesting owners are maintaining them reasonably well. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the electrical system and fuel delivery, since the 2.8 advisories per vehicle hint at niggling age-related wear in these areas.
What to check before buying a 1982 Piaggio Vespa
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Piaggio Vespa
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (99%) | 112 | 88.6% | 0.73 |
| Electric (1%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1982 Piaggio Vespa vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1982 Piaggio Vespa vehicles fall between 4,075 and 27,907 miles.
1982 Piaggio Vespa — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 17 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (47% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1982 Piaggio Vespa
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
22.2%
Front wheel bearings have slight free play
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14.5%
Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort
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14.1%
Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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11.4%
Steering headbearing has slight free play
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9.8%
Front Wheel bearing has slight play
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9.1%
Exhaust noisy
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9.1%
Headlamp aim too high
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8.8%
Rear wheel bearings have slight free play
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1982. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Piaggio Vespa?
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