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Vauxhall Insignia Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Vauxhall Insignia reliable? We analysed 3,238,878 real MOT tests across 297,647 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,238,878 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.7%
Typical Mileage
77,319mi
Annual Mileage
7,948mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
17yrs

The Vauxhall Insignia is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include coil spring broken, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Vauxhall Insignia.

Vauxhall Insignia Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Vauxhall Insignia. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Vauxhall Insignia MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Vauxhall Insignia to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85.4%
2021
86%
2020
84.2%
2019
84%
2018
82.6%
2017
79%
2016
78.9%
2015
78.4%
2014
78%
2013
76.9%
2012
76.7%
2011
76.1%
2010
75.8%
2009
76.9%
2008

Vauxhall Insignia Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Vauxhall Insignia fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

coil spring broken 45,793
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 41,535
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 29,349
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 25,379

Vauxhall Insignia Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Vauxhall Insignia models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 83,914
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 16,873

Vauxhall Insignia Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Vauxhall Insignia owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,051 mi/yr
Typical
7,948 mi/yr
Average
9,604 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,963 mi/yr

Vauxhall Insignia MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Vauxhall Insignia year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 879 85.4% 29,450 45,920 65,518
2020 4,530 86.0% 26,930 40,690 61,704
2019 43,409 84.2% 38,301 52,178 68,767
2018 82,918 84.0% 34,581 51,071 72,400
2017 125,450 82.6% 38,919 57,086 79,495
2016 216,316 79.0% 43,888 64,248 89,326
2015 319,335 78.9% 49,895 73,229 101,202
2014 323,987 78.4% 54,816 80,359 109,917
2013 313,417 78.0% 55,958 81,730 111,245
2012 376,652 76.9% 56,199 83,571 114,568
2011 542,358 76.7% 55,335 81,718 111,063
2010 441,375 76.1% 55,891 82,375 111,386
2009 431,485 75.8% 56,711 82,516 110,719
2008 5,559 76.9% 44,568 68,610 94,293

How Long Does a Vauxhall Insignia Last?

Based on 297,647 Vauxhall Insignia vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.9 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
17 years

Vauxhall Insignia Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Vauxhall Insignia MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
77,319 mi
75th Percentile
106,930 mi
95th Percentile
155,201 mi
Max Recorded
1,641,432 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Vauxhall Insignia

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2020

86.0% MOT pass rate from 4,530 tests

Year to avoid
2009

75.8% MOT pass rate from 431,485 tests

The best year to buy a used Vauxhall Insignia is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.0% across 4,530 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Vauxhall Insignia Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Vauxhall Insignia THIS CAR 77.7% 3,238,878 77,319 mi 17 yrs
Vauxhall Corsa 69.7% 26,893,546 58,908 mi 33 yrs
Vauxhall Astra 71.9% 25,288,868 76,280 mi 34 yrs
Vauxhall Zafira 71.9% 8,488,627 75,062 mi 27 yrs
Jaguar Xf 80.8% 1,374,522 65,620 mi 18 yrs

Compared to the Vauxhall Corsa (69.7% pass rate) and the Vauxhall Astra (71.9% pass rate), the Vauxhall Insignia outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Vauxhall Insignia?

The Vauxhall Insignia has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.7% across 3,238,878 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Vauxhall Insignia are coil spring broken (45,793 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (41,535), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (29,349). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Vauxhall Insignia with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Vauxhall Insignia owner drives around 7,948 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Vauxhall Insignia models stay on UK roads for around 17 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Vauxhall Insignia — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vauxhall Insignia reliable?
Based on 3,238,878 MOT tests, the Vauxhall Insignia has a 77.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Vauxhall Insignia?
The most common MOT failures are coil spring broken, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Insignia do per year?
The typical Vauxhall Insignia does around 7,948 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Vauxhall Insignia last?
Most Vauxhall Insignia models stay on UK roads for around 17 years based on our analysis of 297,647 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Vauxhall Insignia?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Vauxhall Insignia?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Vauxhall Insignia is 2020 with a 86.0% pass rate across 4,530 tests.