Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 Piaggio Vespa?

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 2017 Piaggio Vespa?

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 2017 Piaggio Vespa?

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 2017 Piaggio Vespa reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,631 vehicles, the 2017 Piaggio Vespa has a first-time MOT pass rate of 94.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Piaggio Vespa?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 Piaggio Vespa are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (25.7% of vehicles), COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION (24.3% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (13.4% 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 2017 Piaggio Vespa?

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 Vespa (2017)

1,631 real MOT outcomes analysed • 94.7% first-time pass rate

2017 Piaggio Vespa

CarHunch analysed 1,631 real MOT records for the 2017 Piaggio Vespa. 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 2017 Vespa is a genuinely reliable machine—it passes its MOT first time in nearly 95% of cases, significantly outpacing the UK average of 80%. Dangerous defects are rare, affecting just one in ten vehicles across the fleet, so safety isn't a concern here.

These scooters are running low mileage for their age (median of just under 5,000 miles), which explains both the high pass rate and the minimal failure pattern—owners average only 0.34 failures per test. When you're shopping, prioritise inspecting the machine in person and confirm full service history, since low mileage sometimes masks neglect rather than gentle use.

The 2017 Piaggio Vespa passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (94.7% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

94.7%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

10.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.34

Over 5 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

Middle half: 2k–9k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 94.7% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔍 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 1,631 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.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,631 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 25.7%

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.

Other issues 24.3%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION

Suspension & steering 12.9%

Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Steering headbearing slightly stiff or notchy

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

Exhaust & emissions 7%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Brake wear 5.2%

Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake binding but not excessively · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · …

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

Lighting 4.3%

Headlamp aim too high · Headlamp not working on dipped beam · Headlamp aim too low

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,631 Piaggio Vespa cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Piaggio Vespa

Based on MOT data from 1,631 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 10.3% 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 46,131 Piaggio Vespa vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 27.5%

12,687

Blue 16.2%

7,455

White 13.9%

6,393

Silver 11.6%

5,361

Red 11%

5,082

Green 7%

3,244

Grey 6.5%

2,998

Cream 1.6%

741

Orange 1.5%

698

Yellow 1.2%

575

Brown 1.2%

532

Purple 0.8%

365

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Piaggio Vespa 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.

4,994

typical

2,406

low mileage

9,014

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Piaggio Vespa vehicles fall between 2,406 and 9,014 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 2,406 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.

✓ 2,406–9,014 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Piaggio Vespas sit.

⚠ Over 12,168 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Piaggio Vespa — Still on the Road

Most 2017 Piaggio Vespas are still being driven.

1,034 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 73% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.34

Avg failures per vehicle

1.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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