Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Toyota Corolla.
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With 158,678 currently licensed in the UK, the Toyota Corolla is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Corolla 5 stars in 2019, with 95% adult occupant and 84% child protection scores.
It has a 84.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,909 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £242/month or 36p/mile.
Theft risk is rated very low at 1.7 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
84.2%
120,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£242
est. annual total
New From
£29,000
Euro NCAP tested the Corolla in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
95%
Child Occupant
84%
Pedestrian
86%
Safety Assist
77%
There are 43 known DVSA recalls affecting the Toyota Corolla. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/270
For certain vehicles equipped with the combination meter system (where various information is displayed) that due to an improper programming of the combination meter unnecessarily repetitive data is written to a memory device. This may cause the memory device to deteriorate and the monitor to not display during the meter at start up and remain in this state permanently.
Build dates: 2022-08-19 to 2025-05-06
R/2025/270
For certain vehicles equipped with the combination meter system (where various information is displayed) that due to an improper programming of the combination meter unnecessarily repetitive data is written to a memory device. This may cause the memory device to deteriorate and the monitor to not display during the meter at start up and remain in this state permanently.
Build dates: 2022-02-21 to 2024-11-07
R/2024/514
For certain vehicles that were affected by a previous campaign announced in October 2023 for high-pressure fuel pump a further check is required to confirm if the correct pump is fitted.
Build dates: 2018-12-01 to 2022-11-30
R/2024/463
For certain vehicles there is an issue involving the skid control software of the skid control Electronic Control Unit (ECU) where a hard brake pedal feel cannot be ruled out.
Build dates: 2023-01-16 to 2024-11-05
R/2023/298
Affected vehicles are fitted with a high-pressure fuel pump which over time could develop a crack which could lead to a fuel leak and a risk of a vehicle fire.�
Build dates: 2018-06-18 to 2022-11-10
+ 38 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 120,000 MOT tests, the Corolla has a first-time pass rate of 84.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Corolla is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Toyota Corolla are estimated at around £2,909 per year, or £242 per month.
Fuel
£895
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,289
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Corolla achieves a combined fuel economy of around 58.9 mpg (48.7 mpg urban, 65.7 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| COROLLA | DIESEL | 58.9 mpg | 1.4L |
| COROLLA | PETROL | 41.5 mpg | 1.4L |
| COROLLA | PETROL | 38.2 mpg | 1.6L |
| COROLLA | PETROL | 34 mpg | 1.8L |
| COROLLA | DIESEL | 42.8 mpg | 1.9L |
| COROLLA | DIESEL | 50.4 mpg | 2.0L |
| COROLLA | DIESEL | 44.8 mpg | 2.2L |
| COROLLA HATCHBACK | PETROL | 47.2 mpg | 1.2L |
Starting from £29,000 new, a Toyota Corolla typically retains about 62% after 3 years and 51% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 83% | £23,950 | −£5,050 |
| 2 years | 70% | £20,350 | −£8,650 |
| 3 years | 62% | £17,900 | −£11,100 |
| 4 years | 56% | £16,100 | −£12,900 |
| 5 years | 51% | £14,800 | −£14,200 |
| 6 years | 48% | £13,800 | −£15,200 |
| 7 years | 45% | £12,950 | −£16,050 |
| 8 years | 42% | £12,300 | −£16,700 |
| 9 years | 40% | £11,700 | −£17,300 |
| 10 years | 38% | £11,100 | −£17,900 |
The Corolla has a theft rate of 1.7 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 158,678 licensed and 24,284 SORN Corollas in the UK (182,962 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Corolla has a 84.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 120,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Corolla 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 95% for adult occupant protection, 84% for child occupant protection, 86% for vulnerable road users, and 77% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Corolla are estimated at around £2,909 per year (£242/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 43 known safety recalls affecting the Corolla. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Corolla has a theft rate of 1.7 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new Corolla starts from around £29,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 51% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
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Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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