Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Vauxhall Astra?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Vauxhall Astra?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Vauxhall Astra?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 Vauxhall Astra vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

48% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Vauxhall Astra reliable?

Based on MOT data from 66,336 vehicles, the 2013 Vauxhall Astra has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Vauxhall Astra?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Vauxhall Astra are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (62.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (58.9% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (41.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Vauxhall Astra?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Vauxhall Astra (2013)

66,336 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.1% first-time pass rate

2013 Vauxhall Astra

CarHunch analysed 66,336 real MOT records for the 2013 Vauxhall Astra. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Vauxhall Astra matches the UK average first-time pass rate at 80.1%, which is encouraging, but nearly half of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significantly higher-than-normal concern. Petrol versions hold a marginal advantage over diesels (80.6% vs 79.5% pass rate), though the difference is modest.

At 55,380 miles median, these eight-year-old Astras have covered reasonable mileage for their age, yet they're averaging 2.54 failures per MOT cycle, suggesting wear-related issues are catching up. With 14.2 advisories per vehicle on record, expect routine maintenance costs to accumulate—check the service history carefully and budget for suspension, braking, and exhaust work before buying.

The 2013 Vauxhall Astra has a decent first-time pass rate (80.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

80.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

47.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.54

Over 11.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 43k–69k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 14.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 66,336 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 66,336 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 62.5%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 41.8%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Suspension & steering 29.3%

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken · Offside Rear Coil spring corroded

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 28.4%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 66,336 Vauxhall Astra cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Vauxhall Astra

Based on MOT data from 66,336 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 47.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (52%)	34,737	80.6%	2.52
Diesel (48%)	31,594	79.5%	2.56

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,112,703 Vauxhall Astra vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 25.6%

541,019

Blue 19.1%

403,232

Black 14.9%

314,671

Red 13%

274,291

White 11.4%

241,077

Grey 8%

169,569

Green 5.8%

122,270

Gold 0.9%

19,482

Beige 0.5%

11,615

Brown 0.3%

5,955

Yellow 0.2%

5,042

Turquoise 0.2%

4,480

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Vauxhall Astra vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

55,380

typical

42,779

low mileage

68,841

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Vauxhall Astra vehicles fall between 42,779 and 68,841 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 42,779 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 42,779–68,841 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Vauxhall Astras sit.

⚠ Over 92,935 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Vauxhall Astra — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Vauxhall Astras are still being driven.

Strong survival — 52,517 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 83% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

11.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.54

Avg failures per vehicle

14.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Vauxhall Astra: All Astra years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

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Watch for defects — worth knowing