CarCostCheck

VAUXHALL TIGRA (1998)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 104 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,887

£157/month

MOT Pass Rate

79%

Average

Road Tax

£195

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 8-20

1389cc Petrol

Check Carefully

79% pass rate, £1887/year to run. Close to the national average.

Buying this car? Check for finance, write-offs & theft
£4.99

Check a specific VAUXHALL TIGRA

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

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

Petrol1389cc28 years old104 tests58k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1389cc)

~42 mpg

£1,137
Road Tax

Based on 1389cc

£195
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs
£500
Total per year£1,887
Per month£157/mo
Per week£36/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

🛡️

Get an insurance quote for this VAUXHALL TIGRA

Compare quotes and find the best deal

Reliability Verdict

79% MOT pass rate(Average)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Average reliability. Expect some repairs as it ages. That's close to the national average of 82%. It falls below the VAUXHALL brand average of 84%.

At 28 years old, 79% of VAUXHALL TIGRAs from 1998 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 104 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 58,417 miles.

Got a VAUXHALL TIGRA you're looking at?

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

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

How Does It Compare?

Rank among 1998 cars110th of 340(top 32%)
Rank among VAUXHALL models609th of 882(top 69%)
vs national average-3%(82% avg)
vs 1998 cars average+4%(75% avg)
vs VAUXHALL average-5%(84% avg)

Mileage Analysis

58,417

Average miles

vs

207,200

Expected for age

The average 1998 VAUXHALL TIGRA has 58,417 miles on the clock, which is significantly below the expected 207,200 miles for a 28-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.

Looking at a specific VAUXHALL TIGRA?

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

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 1997 model with a 84% MOT pass rate, while the 2006 model has the lowest at 68%. The 1998 sits between the two at 79%.

VAUXHALL TIGRA by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
200972%3,11270,656 mi
200869%2,42874,610 mi
200769%2,90777,391 mi
200668%3,07982,871 mi
200569%1,65183,647 mi
200470%41686,044 mi
200071%6857,756 mi
199975%8857,631 mi
199879%10458,417 mi
199784%7574,363 mi
199678%4644,919 mi
199576%4150,369 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Check a Specific Vauxhall Tigra

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.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

About the 1998 VAUXHALL TIGRA

The 1998 VAUXHALL TIGRA is a small family car with a 1389cc petrol engine. 104 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. Among all cars from 1998, the average MOT pass rate is 75%, and this model beats that benchmark.

With an average of 58,417 miles at 28 years old, VAUXHALL TIGRA owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver. Very low mileage could mean the car has been garaged or used only for short trips, which can cause its own issues like battery drain and moisture buildup.

1998 VAUXHALL TIGRA Fuel Costs

The 1389cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,137 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 1998 VAUXHALL TIGRA?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,887 157/month), broken down as £1137 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £500 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 79% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

VAUXHALL TIGRA Reliability Trend

Older VAUXHALL TIGRAs tend to have better MOT pass rates than newer ones, with an average decline of 6 percentage points across model years.

Buying a Used 1998 VAUXHALL TIGRA

At 28 years old, the VAUXHALL TIGRA is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. If you're flexible on year, the 1997 model has the highest pass rate at 84%.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 1998 VAUXHALL TIGRA's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

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 1998 VAUXHALL TIGRA stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
VAUXHALL TIGRA(1998)79%£1137£195Grp 8-20£1887
MAZDA MX-5(1999)73%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1827-£60
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF(1999)71%£1327£135Grp 18-32£2017+£130
VAUXHALL CORSA(1999)89%£955£30Grp 5-15£1390-£497
NISSAN MICRA(1999)70%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£165

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Vauxhall Models

Explore other Vauxhall cars or similar models in the same category.

Related Guides

In-depth articles relevant to the Vauxhall Tigra.

Check a specific VAUXHALL TIGRA

Enter the reg to see its MOT history, mileage check, and predicted costs.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

Premium History Check

Buying a VAUXHALL TIGRA? Our premium check covers:

  • Stolen check (PNC)
  • Outstanding finance
  • Write-off history (Cat A/B/N/S)
  • Previous owners count
Just £4.99 per check

Competitors charge £10-£20 for the same data

Share this page

X
GB