Vespa scooter insurance

There are a variety of 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 zip around the city could opt for a less powerful 50cc model, which 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 should do up to 40 mph. However, in the UK the engine is restricted to 30mph.

Do you need insurance for a Vespa?

Yes. It’s a legal requirement to have moped and scooter insurance on your Vespa. Failure to have valid motorbike insurance can result in your Vespa being seized and destroyed, points on your licence, court summons and unlimited fines.

How much is Vespa insurance?

The price of your Vespa insurance will depend on a range of things, not just the scooter itself. Your age, address and UK postcode will all have an effect on the price.

While getting quotes for your Vespa scooter, don’t forget to let potential insurers know about any modifications. Failure to disclose substantial changes may result in claims being turned down.

Vespas have lower power, which may lead you to think 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

To potentially save money you could look at doing an advanced riding qualification. You can also check out our guide on how you could get cheaper motorbike insurance, which has our tips for potentially reducing your insurance costs in a number of ways.

Can I ride a Vespa on a car licence?

Yes. 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 passed your driving test after 1 February 2001, you have to complete a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course before you can use your Vespa scooter on the road.

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

Vespa history and facts

Vespa was the original scooter, designed to offer fast, cheap transport. Others have long emulated its classic step-through design, though 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 constantly innovated over the years to incorporate new technology and provide more choice.

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

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

Following the Second World War, however, Piaggio focused on developing two-wheelers to meet an urgent need for affordable and user-friendly transport. It launched the first Vespa in 1946 - the Vespa 98 - with the marque continuing to draw on the same iconic, step-through design to this day.

The Vespa quickly became ingrained in Italian culture – one million units were manufactured within its first decade of existence. Italian for wasp, Vespa’s growing popularity coined 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 two 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, Derbi, Moto Guzzi and 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 numerous Vespa models over the years, and currently offers six Vespa models to choose from:

GTS Super
GTS
Sei Giorni
Primavera
Sprint
Elettrica.

You should expect to pay more to insure the more expensive Vespas, while cover for models with the smaller 50cc engines could be considerably cheaper.

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

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

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.

There’s also a tamer GTS Super offering a single-cylinder 125cc i-get engine. 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 eight different versions of the GTS Super to choose from.

GTS

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

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 six distinct versions of the GTS.

Sei Giorni

Sei Giorni, which means ‘six days’, is a stylish Vespa that pays homage to Piaggio’s 1951 Vespa Sport Sei Giorni model. This was built for the 1951 Sei Giorni Internazionale race in Vareze, Italy.

Piaggio’s creation won nine gold medals in the six-day motorcycle competition.

The current Sei Giorni model comes with a 300cc high-performance engine and stands out for aesthetic touches such as the vintage-look instrument panel and low headlight.

Today’s Sei Giorni also comes with some useful tech, including an integrated safety system and USB smartphone charging port.

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, and the voice command function to make calls as well as manage your music playlist.

There are no less than 16 different versions of the current Primavera to choose from, with engine sizes ranging from 50cc to 150cc.

Sprint

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

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

There are six different versions, with engine power varying from 50cc to 150cc.

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 two versions - the Electricca 45 km/h, or 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 four 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, as well as allowing you to use your smartphone via the handlebar.

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Vespa scooter insurance

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