Cars/Vauxhall/Insignia

Vauxhall Insignia — Buyer's Guide

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

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Vauxhall Insignia overview

With 175,461 currently licensed in the UK, the Vauxhall Insignia is one of Britain's most popular cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Insignia 5 stars in 2017, with 92% adult occupant and 88% child protection scores.

It has a 74.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, exhaust emissions.

Annual running costs are estimated at £2,818 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £235/month or 35p/mile.

Theft risk is rated very low at 2.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles.

NCAP Safety

2017

MOT Pass Rate

74.5%

280,000 tests

Monthly Cost

£235

est. annual total

New From

£22,000

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Insignia in 2017 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

92%

Child Occupant

88%

Pedestrian

71%

Safety Assist

80%

Safety recalls

There are 23 known DVSA recalls affecting the Vauxhall Insignia. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2023/144

Affected vehicles may not conform to regulatory emission requirements EU R83.

Build dates: 2019-03-07 to 2020-10-09

R/2022/329

The rear toe link may have material loss over vehicle lifetime due to corrosion which weakens the part. This leads to a risk of breakage while driving. In case of breakage this leads to a reduced ability to control the vehicle.

Build dates: 2007-12-08 to 2013-07-26

R/2022/295

Under specific conditions (vacuum loss) the Hydraulic Brake Compensation (vacuum pump) may not get activated

Build dates: 2016-12-13 to 2020-10-05

R/2021/174

There is a risk that the Brake Pedal may fall down while driving resulting in the total loss of brake performance.

Build dates: 2021-02-02 to 2021-04-29

R/2020/272

Vehicles may have fuel tank strap bolts that are not tightened according to specification.

Build dates: 2020-08-28 to 2020-09-07

+ 18 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.

Reliability & MOT

Based on 280,000 MOT tests, the Insignia has a first-time pass rate of 74.5% above the UK national average of 72%.

This is a positive sign for reliability. The Insignia 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 Insignia are estimated at around £2,818 per year, or £235 per month.

Fuel

£1,418

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£800

/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.

Fuel economy

The Insignia achieves a combined fuel economy of around 37.2 mpg (26.6 mpg urban, 47.9 mpg extra-urban).

VariantFuelCombinedEngine
INSIGNIA 4 DOOR SALOON MODEL YEAR 2009PETROL37.2 mpg1.6L
INSIGNIA 4 DOOR SALOON MODEL YEAR 2009PETROL36.2 mpg1.8L
INSIGNIA 4 DOOR SALOON MODEL YEAR 2009DIESEL48.7 mpg2.0L
INSIGNIA 4 DOOR SALOON MODEL YEAR 2009PETROL31.7 mpg2.0L
INSIGNIA 4 DOOR SALOON MODEL YEAR 2009PETROL25.9 mpg2.8L
INSIGNIA 4 DOOR SALOON MODEL YEAR 2010PETROL36.7 mpg1.6L
INSIGNIA 4 DOOR SALOON MODEL YEAR 2010PETROL37.2 mpg1.8L
INSIGNIA 4 DOOR SALOON MODEL YEAR 2010DIESEL48.7 mpg2.0L

Depreciation

Starting from £22,000 new, a Vauxhall Insignia typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year68%£14,850−£7,150
2 years57%£12,600−£9,400
3 years50%£11,100−£10,900
4 years45%£10,000−£12,000
5 years42%£9,200−£12,800
6 years39%£8,550−£13,450
7 years37%£8,050−£13,950
8 years35%£7,650−£14,350
9 years33%£7,250−£14,750
10 years31%£6,900−£15,100

Theft risk

The Insignia has a theft rate of 2.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.

How common is the Insignia?

There are currently 175,461 licensed and 16,909 SORN Insignias in the UK (192,370 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Vauxhall Insignia reliable?

The Insignia has a 74.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 280,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.

How safe is the Vauxhall Insignia?

Euro NCAP awarded the Insignia 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2017. It scored 92% for adult occupant protection, 88% for child occupant protection, 71% for vulnerable road users, and 80% for safety assist features.

How much does a Vauxhall Insignia cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Insignia are estimated at around £2,818 per year (£235/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the Vauxhall Insignia?

There are 23 known safety recalls affecting the Insignia. 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 Insignia likely to be stolen?

The Insignia has a theft rate of 2.2 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 Insignia cost?

A new Insignia starts from around £22,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% of its original value.

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