Vauxhall Nova
From 2,353 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Novas fare better: 1993 models pass at 81.9% vs 87.8% for 1992.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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 and emissions levels exceed default limits. The top issue, 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, caused 95 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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 | 95 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 94 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 48 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 42 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 30 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 28 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 23 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 23 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 20 |
| audible warning inoperative | 20 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 34.5% of Nova failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 17% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £147.
Vauxhall Nova on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 111 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 111. At this rate, roughly 58 years until none remain. Now at 1.2% of its peak (446,505 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 724 | 4,845 | +0 | -0 | +4 |
| 2025 Q2 | 713 | 4,852 | +0 | -0 | +10 |
| 2025 Q1 | 568 | 4,987 | +0 | -25 | -25 |
| 2024 Q4 | 568 | 5,012 | +0 | -86 | -86 |
| 2024 Q3 | 709 | 4,957 | +0 | -0 | +4 |
| 2024 Q2 | 721 | 4,941 | +0 | -0 | +56 |
| 2024 Q1 | 582 | 5,024 | +0 | -77 | -77 |
| 2023 Q4 | 576 | 5,107 | +0 | -17 | -17 |
4 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Merit | Petrol | 164 | 42% |
| Nova L | Petrol | 85 | 22% |
| Nova Sr | Diesel | 76 | 19% |
| Nova | Petrol | 69 | 18% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 81.9% | emissions levels exceed default limits, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 1992 | 87.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
| 1991 | 82.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
| 1990 | 78.3% | 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
4 earlier years
| 1989 | 83.5% | 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, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1988 | 83.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, flexible brake hose excessively damaged, chafed, twisted or stretched |
| 1987 | 85.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 1985 | 82% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
Typical mileage
Half of all Novas tested had between 38,362 and 66,426 miles on the clock.
At 56,891 median miles, the Nova has 0.029 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Vauxhall models
| Vauxhall Corsa | 70.9% |
| Vauxhall Astra | 72.5% |
| Vauxhall Vivaro | 67.2% |
| Vauxhall Mokka | 76.7% |
| Vauxhall Insignia | 75.3% |
Common questions
What is the Vauxhall Nova MOT pass rate?
The Vauxhall Nova has a 83.6% MOT pass rate based on 2,353 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Vauxhall Nova?
The most common MOT failure on the Vauxhall Nova is 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, which caused 95 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Vauxhall Novas are on UK roads?
There are 724 Vauxhall Novas currently licensed on UK roads, with 4,845 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Vauxhall Nova at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Vauxhall Nova is 56,891 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 38,362 and 66,426 miles.
Buying a used Nova?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 83.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £147 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 34.5% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.