CarVerify

Free Car Check

E181 FGW

1987 Vauxhall Nova

Yellow Petrol 1196cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Feb 2027
Tests29 (21 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate72.4%

Mileage

45,168 mi
Last recorded45,168 miles
Recorded on12 Feb 2026
Typical for 1987 Vauxhall Nova52,441 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Vauxhall
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationE181 FGW
MakeVauxhall
ModelNova
Year1987
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,196cc

All premium checks include

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

21 pass 8 fail
Pass 12 Feb 2026 45,168 miles

Coolant leak front radiator has sign of coolant leaking ()

Nearside Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Feb 2025 45,072 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2024 44,995 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2023 44,705 miles

Nearside Rear outer wheel arch corroded

signs of oil leak gear box area

tracking wear on front tyres

Fail 1 Mar 2023 44,705 miles

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear outer wheel arch corroded

signs of oil leak gear box area

tracking wear on front tyres

Pass 3 Mar 2022 44,299 miles

Offside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Oil leak, but not excessive from the engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Mar 2021 44,037 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

signs of oil leak gear box area

Pass 17 Mar 2020 43,895 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Front tyre bald on inner shoulder

exhaust rear silencer slightly deteriorated

front and rear reg plates slight deteriorated

oil leak gear box area

rear brake service recommended

rear wheel arches corroded

Pass 14 Mar 2019 43,120 miles

Nearside Rear wheel arch corroded

Offside Rear wheel arch corroded

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 20 Mar 2018 42,163 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

rear brake service recommended

Pass 13 Mar 2017 41,304 miles

There is staining around the base of carburettor, possible fuel leak! Investigation advised!

Pass 17 Mar 2016 40,484 miles
Fail 17 Mar 2016 40,484 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 10 Mar 2015 39,596 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Off side front tyre inner tread getting low 145x13

Fail 9 Mar 2015 39,596 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Off side front tyre inner tread getting low 145x13

Offside Rear Brake cable has wires broken but is not significantly weakened (3.5.1b)

Pass 6 Mar 2014 38,582 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2013 37,534 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 13 Mar 2013 37,534 miles

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 1 Mar 2012 36,798 miles

Nearside rear brake grabbing slightly (3.7.A.5b)

Fail 24 Feb 2011 35,877 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 24 Feb 2011 35,877 miles
Pass 17 Mar 2010 34,912 miles
Fail 16 Mar 2010 34,912 miles

Nearside Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Pass 11 Mar 2009 33,297 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2008 31,567 miles
Fail 18 Mar 2008 31,567 miles

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

Pass 13 Mar 2007 29,800 miles
Pass 15 Mar 2006 28,072 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2006 28,072 miles

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

How Reliable is the Vauxhall Nova?

Based on 165,951 MOT tests across 38,339 vehicles.

63.9%
Pass Rate
1,993
Miles/Year
42
Year Lifespan
38,339
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 31,003
constant velocity joint gaiter split 11,176
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 9,049
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 8,696
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 8,685
Full Vauxhall Nova reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

E181 FGW is a 1987 Vauxhall Nova in Yellow with a 1,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.4%.

Across all 1987 Vauxhall Nova models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.8% with a typical mileage of 52,441 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Vauxhall Nova fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 31,003 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E181 FGW, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Vauxhall Nova typically stays on UK roads for around 42 years. At 39 years old, this Vauxhall Nova is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E181 FGW?

You can check the full history of E181 FGW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E181 FGW registered?

E181 FGW is a 1987 Vauxhall Nova, first registered on 31 December 1987.

Is E181 FGW safe to buy?

The MOT history for E181 FGW shows 29 tests with a 72.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E181 FGW 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 E181 FGW. 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.