Vauxhall Nova MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Vauxhall Nova. Check any Nova by registration number below.

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84.2%

Avg Pass Rate

+2.2%

vs Vauxhall Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Vauxhall Nova — MOT Reliability Overview

The Vauxhall Nova has an average MOT pass rate of 84.2%, which is 2.2 percentage points above the Vauxhall brand average of 82.0%. This is a strong result, indicating that the Nova is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a Vauxhall Nova fails its MOT are a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. If you are preparing your Nova for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Vauxhall Nova, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Vauxhall Nova performs at MOT across different model years.

1993

Based on 197 vehicles

81.2%Good

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

13.3%

1992

Based on 703 vehicles

87.8%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

1.3%

Retest Rate

9.8%

1991

Based on 489 vehicles

83.8%Good

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

1.1%

Retest Rate

14.8%

1990

Based on 296 vehicles

79.7%Good

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

1.9%

Retest Rate

14.4%

1989

Based on 560 vehicles

88.0%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

1.8%

Retest Rate

8.3%

1988

Based on 333 vehicles

87.4%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

0.8%

Retest Rate

10.0%

1987

Based on 151 vehicles

85.4%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

1.0%

Retest Rate

7.8%

1986

Based on 120 vehicles

85.0%Excellent

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

13.5%

1985

Based on 227 vehicles

80.6%Good

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

1.2%

Retest Rate

18.9%

1984

Based on 90 vehicles

82.2%Good

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Dangerous Defects

5.2%

Retest Rate

10.3%

0

Based on 989 vehicles

84.9%Good

Vauxhall average: 82.0%

Mileage at 5yr

54k mi

Top MOT Failures — Vauxhall Nova

The most common reasons a Vauxhall Nova fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

8.3%

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

3.3%

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

2.9%

Emissions levels exceed default limits

2.9%

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

2.0%

Vauxhall Nova Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Nearside

10.7%

Front Offside

8.1%

Rear Offside

3.6%

Other Vauxhall Models

Compare MOT reliability across Vauxhall models.

Vauxhall Corsa Elite Turbo D

94.0% pass rate

Vauxhall Corsa Se Edition Turbo Auto

94.7% pass rate

Vauxhall Corsa

80.5% pass rate

Vauxhall Insig Sri Nav Vxred Cdtieco Ss

87.5% pass rate

Vauxhall Astra Business Edition Nav T

90.3% pass rate

Vauxhall Signum

70.2% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Vauxhall Nova

Vauxhall Nova — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Vauxhall Nova MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Nova?

The average MOT pass rate for the Vauxhall Nova is 84.2% compared to the Vauxhall average of 82.0%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Nova?

The most common MOT failures on the Vauxhall Nova are: A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (8.3%), The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired (3.3%), The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (2.9%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Vauxhall Nova reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 84.2%, the Vauxhall Nova is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Vauxhall Nova?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Vauxhall Nova?

Typical mileage for the Vauxhall Nova: 54,244 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Nova to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Vauxhall Nova's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.