Vespa scooter insurance

There are various Vespa models to choose from, with a wide range of engine sizes.

If you’re looking for a Vespa to make longer trips between urban areas, you could choose a model with a 300cc engine. Those who just want a Vespa to get around the city could opt for a less powerful 50cc model. This might be cheaper to buy and insure.

There’s a big difference in power, though. A 300cc Vespa typically has a top speed of around 80 mph, while a 50cc can do up to 40 mph. In the UK, the engine is restricted to 30mph.

Do you need insurance for a Vespa?

Yes you do. It’s a legal requirement to have moped or scooter insurance on your Vespa. Not having a valid motorbike insurance policy could result in:

Your Vespa being seized and destroyed
Points on your licence
A court summons
Unlimited fines

With a conviction for driving without insurance, your insurance costs are likely to increase too.

How much is Vespa insurance?

The price you pay for your Vespa insurance depends on several factors, not just the scooter itself. These include:

Your age
Where you live
Whether you have any claims or convictions

When getting quotes for your Vespa scooter, don’t forget to let insurers know about any scooter modifications. If you don't, you risk having any future claims rejected.

Vespas tend to have lower power than other motorbikes, which might make you think that they’re cheaper to insure. But their desirability and high rate of theft can raise insurance costs, so it's worth shopping around. Investing in some good scooter security options is also wise.

If you're looking to save money on your Vespa insurance you could look at advanced riding qualifications. These enhance your riding skills, which make you a safer biker and could bring down your insurance costs.

For more tips on reducing your motorbike insurance costs, read our guide on how you could get cheaper motorbike insurance.

Can I ride a Vespa on a car licence?

Yes, you can ride a Vespa with a car licence. But it depends on when you got your car licence.

If you passed your driving test before 1 February 2001, you can ride a Vespa up to 50cc without needing L-plates. If you want to ride anything with a larger engine, you need to take a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course.

If you passed your driving test on or after 1 February 2001, you have to complete a CBT course before you can use your Vespa scooter on the road.

If you're a learner driver, you must complete your CBT first and then pass your driving test within 2 years.

In either case, you don’t need to take a moped test. But if you want to ride anything over 50cc, you have to complete the theory and practical tests.

Vespa history and facts

Vespa was the original scooter, designed to offer fast, cheap transport. Other mopeds have long emulated its classic step-through design, but Vespa continues to rank among the world’s best scooters.

Piaggio, the Italian company behind the Vespa, has remained true to the original concept. But it has continued to innovate over the years, incorporating new technology and providing more choice.

Piaggio was established in 1884 as a train builder in Genoa, northwest Italy. The company soon expanded its areas of expertise to include aircraft and motorboats.

But following the Second World War, Piaggio focused on developing 2-wheelers to meet an urgent need for affordable and user-friendly transport. It launched the first Vespa in 1946 - the Vespa 98 - and the company still draws on the same iconic, step-through design to this day.

The Vespa quickly became part of Italian culture – 1 million units were manufactured within its first decade. Named after the Italian word for wasp, Vespa’s growing popularity created a new word, ‘vespare’, which means ‘to go somewhere on a Vespa’

The scooter achieved global fame after Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn were seen riding around on one in the 1953 film Roman Holiday. In 1962, surrealist painter Salvador Dalí decided to customise a Vespa with some of his artwork.

During the 1960s, the UK became the world’s biggest market for the Vespa as the scooter surged in popularity with Mod subculture. The UK is still Vespa’s second biggest market, behind Italy.

By the scooter’s 75th anniversary in 2021, over 19 million Vespas had been produced worldwide, with 2 million made within the past decade. The Vespa continues to be immortalised in popular culture and features prominently in Disney Pixar’s 2021 film Luca.

Listed on the Italian stock exchange, today Piaggio is dedicated to making scooters, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles. Alongside Vespa, the company’s scooter and motorcycle brands include:

Piaggio
Derbi
Aprilia
Scarabeo
Moto Guzzi
Gilera

Piaggio’s scooters and motorcycles are made at a sprawling factory in Tuscany, central Italy. The company also has manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and India to meet demand in Asia.

The current Vepsa models

Piaggio has produced many Vespa models over the years, and currently offers 5 Vespa models to choose from:

GTS Super
GTS
Primavera
Sprint
Electrica

Younger riders, especially those aged 16-17 years old, might find moped and scooter insurance more expensive, as insurers tend to view this age group as being riskier.

Piaggio’s GTS Super and GTS 300cc models tend to be rated highly by those looking for a more powerful scooter. Models with the larger engine might be more expensive to insure as they tend to create more expensive claims when involved in an accident.

The all-electric Vespa Elettrica is also getting strong reviews and is billed as the future of scootering.

New for 2023, Vespa has introduced a special edition of its 946 model, named 'bunny'. This 946 trim was created to coincide with the Lunar Year of the Rabbit. The company plans to release a new version of the 946 every year for the next 12 years, with each model featuring a different animal of the lunar zodiac.

All prices accurate as of 2 February 2023.

GTS Super

If you’re looking for some extra power from your scooter, you could opt for a GTS Super 300, with its high-performance 300cc engine. The manufacturer boasts that it's the most powerful Vespa engine.

There’s also a tamer GTS Super offering a single-cylinder 125cc i-get engine with a start-stop feature. The GTS Super 300 is generally more expensive to buy and insure.

All the latest GTS Super models come with digital dashboard and Bluetooth so you can connect your smartphone. In all, there are 6 different versions of the GTS Super to choose from and prices start at around £5,450.

GTS

As with the GTS Super, the GTS comes with a choice of 300cc or 125cc engine, depending on how much power you want.

While the GTS Super and GTS look similar, the GTS doesn’t have the same level of standard infotainment as the GTS Super.

The GTS Super benefits from a digital dashboard and smartphone connectivity that the GTS lacks. Piaggio offers 2 distinct versions of the GTS.

Vespa claims that its GTS 300 Euro 5 is 'the fastest Vespa in the family'.

Prices start from £5,350.

Primavera

A classic Vespa model that originated in the swinging 60s, the Primavera now comes with a multi-function full-colour display, connected to the Vespa MIA app. This offers handy info at your fingertips, from bike status to trip statistics.

You can also use the handlebar to answer calls to your smartphone. The voice command function lets you make calls as well as manage your music playlist.

There are 3 different versions of the current Primavera to choose from, with a choice of 50cc or 125cc engines.

You can buy Primavera from £3,550.

Sprint

Another Vespa combining the spirit of the 60s with 21^st century innovation is the Sprint.

The Sprint is a sporty Vespa, with its all-aluminium build making it especially lightweight.

All Vespas in the Sprint range come with an i-get engine to help reduce your fuel consumption. They also feature better engine cooling and reduced carbon emissions.

The Vespa Sprint is available with a 125cc engine. Vespa has collaborated with music star Justin Bieber on a trim that's been personally designed by the singer.

Prices for the Sprint start at £5,050.

Electricca

An all-electric scooter powered by a lithium-ion battery, Piaggio describes this recent edition to the Vespa line-up as super-silent.

There are 2 versions - the Electricca 45 km/h and the more powerful Electricca 70 km/h. You can easily recharge your Elettrica by connecting the underseat cable to wall-mounted electrical sockets or public charging stations. It takes 4 hours to fully recharge.

The Electricca comes with a multi-function full-colour display, connected to the Vespa MIA app. This gives you key info at your fingertips and allows you to use your smartphone via the handlebar.

Prices start at £6,300.

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