Most Reliable Cars UK - MOT Pass Rates Ranked (2026) - MOT Checkup

How We Rank Reliability

Our reliability rankings are based on MOT pass rates — the percentage of vehicles that pass the annual MOT inspection on the first attempt without any major or dangerous defects. This data comes from the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), the government body responsible for all MOT testing in England, Scotland, and Wales.

The MOT pass rate is one of the most objective measures of real-world reliability available. Unlike manufacturer surveys or owner self-reporting, MOT data is collected consistently across millions of tests each year by independent, authorised examiners. A high pass rate indicates that vehicles of that model are genuinely well-built and well-maintained. For a deeper dive into what goes wrong, browse common faults by make.

Top 20 Most Reliable Models

These models have the highest MOT pass rates in the UK, making them the most reliable choices for used car buyers.

#	Make	Model	Pass Rate
1	Kia	EV9	91.8%
2	Volvo	EX90	91.8%
3	BMW	i7	91.5%
4	Hyundai	Ioniq 6	91.5%
5	Kia	EV6	91.5%
6	Volvo	EX30	91.5%
7	Polestar	4	91.5%
8	Volkswagen	ID.7	91.2%
9	BMW	i5	91.2%
10	Hyundai	Ioniq 5	91.2%
11	Porsche	Taycan	91.2%
12	Genesis	GV60	91.2%
13	BMW	iX	91%
14	Audi	e-tron GT	91%
15	Nissan	Ariya	91%
16	Cupra	Tavascan	91%
17	Polestar	3	91%
18	BYD	Seal	91%
19	BMW	i4	90.8%
20	Skoda	Enyaq	90.8%

Top 20 Least Reliable Models

These models have the lowest MOT pass rates. If you are considering one of these, we strongly recommend running a free MOT check on the specific vehicle before purchasing.

#	Make	Model	Pass Rate
1	Chrysler	Grand Voyager	70.2%
2	Vauxhall	Zafira	70.5%
3	Vauxhall	Movano	71.5%
4	Renault	Master	71.5%
5	Land Rover	Freelander	71.5%
6	Land Rover	Discovery 3	71.8%
7	Renault	Kangoo	72.2%
8	Vauxhall	Vivaro	72.5%
9	Nissan	Primastar	72.5%
10	Peugeot	407	72.5%
11	Renault	Scenic	72.5%
12	Ford	Galaxy	72.8%
13	Renault	Trafic	72.8%
14	Fiat	Punto	72.8%
15	Land Rover	Freelander 2	72.8%
16	Citroen	Grand C4 Picasso	72.8%
17	Dodge	Nitro	72.8%
18	Citroen	Dispatch	73%
19	Ford	Ka	73.1%
20	Ford	Transit Connect	73.2%

Reliability Rankings by Make

Average MOT pass rate across all models for each manufacturer. Only makes with two or more models are included for statistical relevance.

#	Make	Avg Pass Rate	Models
1	Polestar	90.8%	3
2	BYD	90.2%	3
3	Genesis	88.9%	4
4	Ora	88.9%	2
5	Tesla	88.5%	4
6	GWM	88.2%	3
7	Cupra	87.3%	5
8	Lexus	87%	10
9	Ferrari	86.1%	6
10	MG	86%	7
11	McLaren	85.9%	5
12	Lamborghini	85.9%	5
13	Lotus	85.5%	5
14	Porsche	85.4%	8
15	Toyota	85.3%	18
16	Honda	85.2%	10
17	Morgan	84.5%	3
18	Maxus	84.3%	3
19	Kia	83.9%	14
20	Hyundai	83.8%	13
21	Mazda	83.8%	10
22	Volvo	83.8%	15
23	BMW	83.4%	27
24	Rolls-Royce	83.2%	5
25	Suzuki	83.1%	10
26	Audi	83%	23
27	Subaru	83%	6
28	Skoda	82.8%	12
29	Smart	82.2%	4
30	Mercedes-Benz	82.1%	22
31	Abarth	82%	4
32	Aston Martin	81.8%	5
33	Mini	81.6%	9
34	Bentley	81.6%	4
35	Volkswagen	81.5%	28
36	Jaguar	81.3%	7
37	Dacia	81%	6
38	SEAT	80.9%	8
39	Nissan	80.8%	12
40	DS	80.6%	5
41	Peugeot	79.9%	14
42	Fiat	79.6%	10
43	Alfa Romeo	79.4%	6
44	Mitsubishi	79.3%	8
45	SsangYong	79.3%	5
46	Renault	79.2%	16
47	Maserati	79.2%	5
48	Ford	78.9%	22
49	Vauxhall	78.8%	19
50	Jeep	78.8%	6
51	Citroen	77.4%	14
52	Land Rover	76%	11
53	Dodge	75.8%	5
54	Chrysler	73.1%	4

Tips for Buying a Reliable Used Car

1. Check the MOT History First

Before you even visit a car, run a free MOT check. The MOT history reveals the vehicle's true condition — recurring failures, advisory notices that have been left unaddressed, and mileage progression. A vehicle with consistent passes and declining advisories has been well maintained.

2. Prioritise Models with High Pass Rates

The rankings on this page give you a head start. Models with pass rates above 80% are statistically less likely to give you problems. Japanese manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki consistently top the charts, but individual models from any manufacturer can be excellent.

3. Look at the Specific Failure Reasons

Some models fail on expensive items (suspension, brakes) while others fail on cheap-to-fix items (bulbs, wiper blades). A model with a slightly lower pass rate that fails on minor items may actually cost you less to maintain than one that passes more often but fails on major components when it does.

4. Consider Total Cost of Ownership

Reliability is only part of the picture. Factor in insurance group, fuel economy, road tax, and typical parts prices. A reliable car with expensive servicing costs may not be the best overall value. Use our MOT data alongside other research to make an informed decision.

5. Verify the Mileage

Always check the mileage history using our free mileage check. A reliable model with a clocked odometer is still a bad buy. The MOT record provides an independent mileage trail that cannot be altered by the seller.

Check Any Vehicle's MOT History

See the full MOT record for any UK vehicle — pass/fail results, advisories, mileage, and failure reasons.

Free MOT Check

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate MOT reliability rankings?

We rank vehicles by their MOT pass rate — the percentage of MOT tests that a make or model passes on the first attempt without any major or dangerous defects. This data comes from official DVSA MOT test records covering millions of tests. A higher pass rate means fewer failures and, by extension, better mechanical reliability and maintenance by owners.

Does a high MOT pass rate mean the car is reliable?

MOT pass rate is one of the strongest publicly available indicators of real-world reliability. It reflects the actual condition of cars on UK roads, including how well they are maintained by their owners. However, it is not the only factor — a model with enthusiast owners who maintain their cars meticulously may show a higher pass rate than its mechanical quality alone would suggest. We recommend using pass rates alongside owner reviews and manufacturer warranty data.

Why do Japanese cars tend to rank higher?

Japanese manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, and Mazda consistently rank highly in MOT pass rate tables. This is attributed to several factors: conservative engineering that prioritises durability, high build quality standards, and in some cases a more reliability-conscious ownership demographic. The Toyota Corolla and Honda Jazz, for example, regularly appear in the top 10 most reliable models.

How often is this data updated?

Our rankings are based on the latest available DVSA MOT test data. The underlying statistics are reviewed and updated regularly to reflect recent test results. The rankings you see on this page represent the most current data available to us. Individual make and model pages may show more granular, real-time data when you run a specific vehicle check.

Can I check the reliability of a specific car I am considering buying?

Yes. You can use our free MOT check tool to look up any UK vehicle by registration number. The report shows the vehicle's full MOT history, including pass/fail results, advisories, mileage readings, and failure reasons. This gives you a detailed picture of that specific car's condition, beyond the general model-level statistics shown on this page.

What is the difference between pass rate and failure rate?

Pass rate and failure rate are complementary. If a model has a 78% pass rate, its failure rate is 22%. We focus on pass rate because it is more intuitive — a higher number is better. The UK average MOT pass rate across all vehicles is approximately 80%, so any model significantly below this threshold should be considered less reliable than average.

Do newer cars always have higher pass rates?

Not necessarily. While newer cars tend to have higher pass rates because they have less wear, some models develop reliability issues within their first few MOTs. Equally, well-maintained older vehicles from reliable manufacturers can maintain high pass rates well into their second decade. The rankings on this page normalise for age where possible to provide a fair comparison.

Should I avoid cars on the least reliable list?

Not automatically. The least reliable list highlights models with below-average MOT pass rates, but individual examples can still be excellent if they have been well maintained. If you are considering a model on the least reliable list, we strongly recommend running a free MOT check on the specific vehicle to review its full history. A car with a clean MOT record from a less reliable model line can still be a good buy.

Most Reliable Cars UK (2026)