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C20 VAU

1986 Vauxhall Cavalier

Blue Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Feb 2027
Tests16 (13 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate81.3%

Mileage

74,730 mi
Last recorded74,730 miles
Recorded on21 Feb 2026
Typical for 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier53,022 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Vauxhall
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationC20 VAU
MakeVauxhall
ModelCavalier
Year1986
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

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50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

13 pass 3 fail
Pass 21 Feb 2026 74,730 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2024 74,712 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2023 74,373 miles
Pass 8 Jul 2022 73,099 miles
Pass 22 Jul 2021 72,385 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2020 71,134 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 27 Jun 2020 71,134 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Jul 2019 70,604 miles

parking brake lever reserve travel nearing limits

Pass 1 Jul 2017 70,318 miles
Pass 4 Jul 2016 70,093 miles

Both front tyres showing age related cracks

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 8 Jul 2015 69,372 miles
Pass 7 Jul 2014 64,851 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2008 64,727 miles

Coolant leak

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Nail in offside front tyre

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Oil leak

welding repair has been carried out however there is still corrosion to this area

Fail 3 Oct 2008 64,727 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Lower Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Coolant leak

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Nail in offside front tyre

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Oil leak

Pass 14 Feb 2006 64,347 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2006 64,341 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

How Reliable is the Vauxhall Cavalier?

Based on 791,158 MOT tests across 179,147 vehicles.

63.0%
Pass Rate
4,678
Miles/Year
37
Year Lifespan
179,147
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 63,789
Brake pipe excessively corroded 61,692
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 58,060
constant velocity joint gaiter split 47,336
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 34,943
Full Vauxhall Cavalier reliability report

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C20 VAU is a 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier in Blue with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.3%.

Across all 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.0% with a typical mileage of 53,022 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Vauxhall Cavalier fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 63,789 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C20 VAU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Vauxhall Cavalier typically stays on UK roads for around 37 years. At 40 years old, this Vauxhall Cavalier is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C20 VAU?

You can check the full history of C20 VAU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C20 VAU registered?

C20 VAU is a 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier, first registered on 29 August 1986.

Is C20 VAU safe to buy?

The MOT history for C20 VAU shows 16 tests with a 81.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C20 VAU have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on C20 VAU. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.