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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2006 Vauxhall Agila MOT fail rate and common faults

How Vauxhall Agila cars first used in 2006 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2024, against all cars of the same age. From 3,936 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 18 years, tested in 2024

MOT fail rate at age 18 (n=1,148)40.2%
All cars at 18 years (n=3,261,622)43.3%
Difference−3.0 pts
MOT tests of 2006 cars, 2022 to 20243,936

What stands out

  • In 2024, at 18 years old, Vauxhall Agila cars first used in 2006 failed 40.2% of MOTs (1,148 tests), 3.0 points below the 43.3% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2024, as these cars went from 16 to 18 years old, the fail rate moved from 37.3% to 40.2%.
  • Vauxhall Agila cars first used a year earlier, in 2005, failed 42.1% at the same age of 18 years (1,438 tests, in 2023).
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Vauxhall Agila at 18 years, is rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded, at 5.1 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.2).

MOT fail rate by test year

Vauxhall Agila cars first used in 2006: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
202216 years37.3%1,45742.6%−5.2 pts
202317 years39.4%1,33143.1%−3.7 pts
202418 years40.2%1,14843.3%−3.0 pts

Most common faults at 18 years

These figures cover all Vauxhall Agila MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,141). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Wear6.31.9
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded5.12.2
Wipers not clearing screen Wear4.33.0
Side/position light not working Wear4.25.6
Driveshaft CV boot split3.03.2
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear2.72.9
Tyre with cords exposed Wear2.41.7
Suspension ball joint worn2.42.4
Steering track rod end: ball joint play2.42.0
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear2.22.3

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,141). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material27.612.3
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear17.017.4
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear14.69.8
Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)14.43.7
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive10.312.6
Coil spring: corroded8.77.7
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.211.1
Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Wear7.95.4
Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened5.32.9
Brake pads wearing thin Wear5.26.4

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=5,141). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 18 years

These figures cover all Vauxhall Agila MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,141). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Petrol100.0%40.6%5,14043.2%69,621 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 18 years

These figures cover all Vauxhall Agila MOTs at 18 years: cars first used 2004 to 2007, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=5,141). At 18 years, Vauxhall Agila cars at 60,000 to 90,000 miles failed more often (43.4%, n=1,935) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (34.0%, n=1,594). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles34.0%1,59432.9%
60,000 to 90,000 miles43.4%1,93541.7%

Car tax rules for a 2006 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Vauxhall Agila

Other Vauxhall models first used in 2006

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Vauxhall Astra (2006)19 years in 202547.5%18,63643.2%
Vauxhall Corsa (2006)19 years in 202549.9%13,77643.2%
Vauxhall Zafira (2006)19 years in 202546.6%5,45743.2%
Vauxhall Vectra (2006)19 years in 202543.5%3,19543.2%
Vauxhall Meriva (2006)19 years in 202552.2%2,88043.2%

More on the Vauxhall Agila

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2006 Vauxhall Agila cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.