Vauxhall Corsa SE (2021)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 11,743 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£1,630

£136/month

MOT Pass Rate

91%

Excellent

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 5-15

1199cc Petrol

Great Choice

91% pass rate, £1,630/year to run. 9 points above average.

Buying this car? Check for finance, write-offs & theft

£4.99

Check a specific Vauxhall Corsa SE

Enter a reg plate for full MOT history, mileage check, health score, running costs, and reliability data. Free, instant, no signup.

Petrol1199cc5 years old11,743 tests25k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1199cc)

~50 mpg

£1,175

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,630

Per month£136/mo

Per week£31/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

91% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 9 points above the average of 82% across all models in our data. It also outperforms the Vauxhall brand average of 84%.

91% of MOT tests on Vauxhall Corsa SEs from 2021 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 3 years old. That's based on 11,743 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 24,991 miles.

Got a Vauxhall Corsa SE you're looking at?

Enter the reg plate to check its specific MOT history, mileage, and health score.

How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 models2115th of 3,336(bottom half)

Rank among Vauxhall models212th of 870(top 25%)

vs average of all models+9%(82% avg)

vs 2021 models average-1%(92% avg)

vs Vauxhall average+7%(84% avg)

Mileage Analysis

24,991

Average miles

22,200

Expected for age

The average 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE had 24,991 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is in line with the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car, suggesting normal everyday use.

Looking at a specific Vauxhall Corsa SE?

Enter its reg plate for a free check with full MOT history, mileage verification, and predicted costs.

Vauxhall Corsa SE by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2022	92%	37	16,087 mi
2021	91%	11,743	24,991 mi
2020	89%	13,686	28,336 mi
2019	91%	587	29,421 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Ford Fiesta

2019 · 998cc Petrol

£1,630/year

91%

same

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+1%

Vauxhall Corsa

2019 · 1398cc Petrol

£2,003/year

88%

-3%

Nissan Qashqai

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,853/year

93%

+2%

Check a Specific Vauxhall Corsa SE

Enter a reg plate to get the full MOT history, health score, and mileage verification.

Upgrade to Premium (£4.99) for stolen, finance, and write-off checks.

About the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE

The 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE is a city car. Our records list a 1199cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 11,743 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it one of the most commonly tested models on UK roads. Among all models from 2021, the average MOT pass rate is 92%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 24,991 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Vauxhall Corsa SE owners drive about as much as the UK average.

2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE Fuel Costs

The modest 1199cc petrol engine keeps fuel costs low, which is a real advantage for a city car. Expect around 50 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,175 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,630 (£136/month), broken down as £1,175 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 91% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

Vauxhall Corsa SE Reliability Trend

The Vauxhall Corsa SE has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 1 percentage point.

Buying a Used 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE

At 5 years old, the Vauxhall Corsa SE offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. With 11,743 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

What the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE Fails Its MOT On

Share of the 1,223 MOT tests on the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE that failed at the first attempt in 2025, next to all cars and vans of the same age.

Windscreen, wipers and mirrors61%
Same age: 25% (fails on this more often)
Tyres18%
Same age: 38% (fails on this less often)
Brakes15%
Same age: 15%
Lights and electrics15%
Same age: 22% (fails on this less often)

DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2025; a test that failed on two areas counts in both. How we count it · Vauxhall Corsa SE reliability, common problems and years to avoid

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Coil Pack Failure

Medium risk

Smaller petrol engines are prone to ignition coil failures, causing misfires and rough running. Replacement is £50-£150 per coil.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Vauxhall Corsa SE(2021)	91%	£1,175	£200	Grp 5-15	£1,630
Ford Fiesta(2019)	91%	£1,175	£200	Grp 1-8	£1,630same
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853+£223
Vauxhall Corsa(2019)	88%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,003+£373
Nissan Qashqai(2020)	93%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853+£223

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE

Is the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 91% of MOT tests on 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SEs ended in a pass, from 11,743 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 9 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE cost to run?

Our estimate is £1,630 a year (£136 a month): £1,175 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £200 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE?

91% of 11,743 MOT tests on the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 2115th of 3,336 models first registered in 2021 (bottom half).

Which year Vauxhall Corsa SE has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE has the highest MOT pass rate at 91% and the 2020 the lowest at 89%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2021 Vauxhall Corsa SE is 24,991 miles, which is in line with the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car, suggesting normal everyday use.