Vauxhall Corsa — Buyer's Guide

Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.

Check a specific Vauxhall Corsa

Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Vauxhall Corsa.

Free & instant — no signup required

Own a Vauxhall Corsa? Never miss your MOT

Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.

✓ Free    ✓ No spam    ✓ Unsubscribe any time

Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.

Need an MOT or service? Compare prices from local garages — BookMyGarage

Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.

Vauxhall Corsa overview

With 947,758 currently licensed in the UK, the Vauxhall Corsa is one of Britain's most popular cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Corsa 4 stars in 2019, with 84% adult occupant and 86% child protection scores.

It has a 76.8% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, lighting, brakes.

Annual running costs are estimated at £1,104 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £92/month or 14p/mile.

Theft risk is rated very low at 2.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles.

NCAP Safety

2019

MOT Pass Rate

76.8%

980,000 tests

Monthly Cost

£92

est. annual total

New From

£18,000

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Corsa in 2019 and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

84%

Child Occupant

86%

Pedestrian

68%

Safety Assist

56%

Safety recalls

There are 56 known DVSA recalls affecting the Vauxhall Corsa. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2025/451

Affected vehicles may have incorrect or missing tyre pressure messages displayed in the instrument cluster due to a software deviation.

Build dates: 2025-03-04 to 2025-06-27

R/2025/345

Affected vehicles have been fitted with the wrong Autonomous Telematic Box. This means it cannot connect to the remoter server making it impossible to make E-Calls or use Intelligent Speed Assistance.

Build dates: 2024-12-10 to 2025-02-20

R/2025/342

Vehicles may be affected by incorrect performance of the On-Board-Diagnostics related to Selective Catalytic Reduction system and/or Diesel Particle Filter. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may not illuminate in the event of a malfunction and therefore does not comply with emission regulations.

Build dates: 2019-07-16 to 2020-10-19

R/2025/282

On affected vehicles there there may be loose connections between a high-pressure fuel pipe and the engine fuel rail which potentially could lead to a leak and risk of fire.

Build dates: 2023-02-21 to 2025-04-22

R/2025/245

Vehicles may be affected by premature wearing of the camshaft drive chain leading to abnormal noise or to a breakage of the chain in the worst case.

Build dates: 2019-07-16 to 2023-01-31

+ 51 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.

Reliability & MOT

Based on 980,000 MOT tests, the Corsa has a first-time pass rate of 76.8% above the UK national average of 72%.

This is a positive sign for reliability. The Corsa is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.

Running costs

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Vauxhall Corsa are estimated at around £1,104 per year, or £92 per month.

Fuel

£0

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£654

/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.

Electric specifications

Battery

51 kWh

Range (WLTP)

222 mi

Motor

115 kW

154 bhp

Drive

FWD

Rapid charge: 25 min (0-80%) | Home charge: 8h (0-100%)

Depreciation

Starting from £18,000 new, a Vauxhall Corsa typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year68%£12,150−£5,850
2 years57%£10,350−£7,650
3 years50%£9,100−£8,900
4 years45%£8,200−£9,800
5 years42%£7,550−£10,450
6 years39%£7,000−£11,000
7 years37%£6,600−£11,400
8 years35%£6,250−£11,750
9 years33%£5,950−£12,050
10 years31%£5,650−£12,350

Theft risk

The Corsa has a theft rate of 2.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.

How common is the Corsa?

There are currently 947,758 licensed and 103,742 SORN Corsas in the UK (1,051,500 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Vauxhall Corsa reliable?

The Corsa has a 76.8% first-time MOT pass rate based on 980,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.

How safe is the Vauxhall Corsa?

Euro NCAP awarded the Corsa 4 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 84% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child occupant protection, 68% for vulnerable road users, and 56% for safety assist features.

How much does a Vauxhall Corsa cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Corsa are estimated at around £1,104 per year (£92/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the Vauxhall Corsa?

There are 56 known safety recalls affecting the Corsa. 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.

Is the Vauxhall Corsa likely to be stolen?

The Corsa has a theft rate of 2.4 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.

How much does a new Vauxhall Corsa cost?

A new Corsa starts from around £18,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% of its original value.

Found a Vauxhall Corsa you like?

Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.

Free & instant — no signup required

Set a free MOT reminder

Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.

✓ Free    ✓ No spam    ✓ Unsubscribe any time

Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.

Need an MOT or service? Compare prices from local garages — BookMyGarage

Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.

More Vauxhall guides

Related checks

Free Plate Check © 2026. All rights reserved.

Set a free reminder