2016 Vauxhall Insignia 1.6L Diesel · CE16 VLL

With five MOT tests recorded over the past decade, the mechanical narrative here is one of persistently clean roadworthiness. The most recent test on 18 December 2025 resulted in a pass with no advisories or defects recorded, continuing a pattern that has held since at least 2023. The two most recent cycles each show a fail immediately followed by a pass on the next attempt (17 December 2025 fail, 18 December 2025 pass; 25 November 2024 fail, 25 November 2024 pass), suggesting minor items were addressed quickly between attempts rather than any underlying structural or systemic concern. No advisories have been logged across any of the recorded tests, indicating the vehicle has not yet reached the wear thresholds typically flagged on a 2016 Insignia of this age, such as corroded brake pipes, worn suspension linkages, or deteriorated exhaust mounting rubbers. Against a ten-year vehicle age, the recorded mileage of 76,443 miles equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 7,644 miles, which sits comfortably within the expected range for a privately used family car of this type. There are no significant gaps between testing entries, and mileage progression between the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tests appears consistent and gradual rather than indicative of long stationary periods or sudden heavy use. This kind of steady, moderate usage tends to be mechanically sympathetic, allowing consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension bushes to wear at a predictable rate rather than suffering the dry-out, corrosion, and component seizure often associated with very low mileage or extended lay-ups. It also suggests the diesel or petrol drivetrain, depending on variant, has been kept working through regular warm-up cycles. Given the absence of recorded advisories, a prospective buyer cannot rely on the MOT history to flag specific components for closer scrutiny, and instead should focus on the items most commonly prone to wear on the Insignia platform as it reaches its tenth year. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, particularly from the lower control arm bushes and front anti-roll bar drop links, both of which are known wear items on this chassis. Feel for any vagueness or knocking through the steering rack on full lock, and check for uneven tyre wear across the front axle, which can indicate worn bushes or alignment issues. At low speed, listen for any graunching or binding from the front brakes, suggesting seized caliper slides, and check the rear brake discs and pads visually for wear close to the service limit. The vehicle should also be inspected thoroughly on a lift or ramp before purchase, as MOT records alone cannot reveal developing issues. Pay particular attention to the condition of the underbody and subframe mounting points for any surface rust, as Vauxhalls of this era can begin to show corrosion in these areas, and check the rear brake flexible hoses for cracking or perishing. Inspect the condition of the coil springs for any signs of corrosion pitting or breakage, and examine the exhaust system front-to-back for rust, as original equipment systems on ten-year-old Insignias are often approaching the end of their service life. Finally, verify that the cooling system has been maintained, with a recent cambelt or timing chain service depending on engine variant, as MOT records do not cover internal engine timing component condition, and confirm that any advisories-free status continues to hold into the next test cycle without a sudden accumulation of wear-related items.