Vespa Scooter Insurance

Vespa (meaning ‘wasp’ in both Italian and Latin) originated in Italy and was created by Enrico Piaggio, son of Rinaldo Piaggio (Piaggio’s founder), when he saw a need for inexpensive and modern transportation for Italians after the Second World War.

When Piaggio saw his first scooter design he is alleged to have cried “Sembra una vespa” which translates into English as “it looks like a wasp”. The brand name Vespa was born.

The iconic Vespa design sees the engine placed beside the rear wheel, allowing for a complete through of the scooter. It also has large floorboard footrests and a large front fairing designed for wind and splash protection.

Vespa featured heavily in the Mod subculture of the 1960s, with many Mods adopting customised scooters by either Vespa or Lambretta as part of their style. These scooters were cheap to buy and run for British youths who found themselves in low-paying jobs.

Vespa’s low running costs and iconic design make it a hugely popular model today, with many restored Vespas in circulation throughout the world.

Some of the current models include the Vespa LX 50, 125 and 150 (representing their respective engine sizes). Their top speeds are low and fuel efficiency is spectacular. The Vespa GTS 250ie (with GTS standing for Granturismo Sport) has an engine size of 244cc and a top speed of 73mph, with re-stylings including the GTS300ie – which is reported to be a response to Honda’s SH300i.