UK MOT data · free answer
Which used cars are the most reliable?
By CARMOTIQ research team · Age band: 5–10 years (first registered about 2016–2021) · Min 25k tests per model in ranking tables
Data created
CARMOTIQ will not name “the most reliable used car.” That question mixes ideas MOT data cannot answer: breakdown frequency, repair cost, how one owner treated a vehicle, and whether you should buy a specific advert.
What we can publish is MOT pass rates and failure patterns from official DVSA tests. Pass rate is the share of recorded tests that passed for a make and model in an age band. It is one evidence layer — the same boundary explained in our MOT vs reliability guide.
An honest destination for the query
People still search “most reliable used cars.” This page exists so that query has a UK MOT-data destination that refuses the unsafe claim, then shows the 5–10 years (first registered about 2016–2021) pass-rate table (as of 5 July 2026, 10.5M tests in the listed set). Leading rows such as Lexus RX (94.1%) are MOT outcomes only.
Next: read which used cars have the best MOT pass rates, or how useful MOT history is when buying, then compare two finalists.
High-volume models by MOT pass rate (5–10 years (first registered about 2016–2021))
Source: UK DVSA MOT outcomes. Pass rate is the share of recorded tests that passed — not a reliability rating. Figures appear in the table below (HTML), not only in charts.
| Rank | ModelMake / model | PassMOT pass rate | TestsMOT tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexus RX | 94.1% | 36k |
| 2 | Lexus UX | 94.1% | 31k |
| 3 | Porsche Macan | 92.5% | 64k |
| 4 | Jaguar I-Pace | 92.2% | 42k |
| 5 | Lexus NX | 92% | 87k |
| 6 | Mazda CX-30 | 91.9% | 38k |
| 7 | Honda Jazz | 91.7% | 447k |
| 8 | Mazda MX-5 | 91.6% | 77k |
| 9 | Volkswagen T-ROC | 91.4% | 241k |
| 10 | Audi Q2 | 91.3% | 251k |
| 11 | Audi TT | 90.8% | 108k |
| 12 | Volkswagen ID3 | 90.8% | 37k |
| 13 | Volvo XC40 | 90.6% | 198k |
| 14 | Honda HR-V | 90.6% | 135k |
| 15 | Audi E-Tron | 90.6% | 28k |
See the full top-50 table.
Next step
Free answer pages stop here. Use research tools to shortlist — credits unlock deeper defect detail.
Data source and methodology
- Source: UK DVSA MOT test outcomes (aggregated make/model research).
- Default public ranking age band: 5–10 years (first registered about 2016–2021).
- Minimum tests filter on ranking tables: 25k per model.
- What MOT does not prove: breakdowns, repair cost, or that you should buy a particular car. See About CARMOTIQ.
Frequently asked questions
Which used cars are the most reliable?
- CARMOTIQ cannot name “the most reliable” used car. Reliability means different things. We publish MOT pass rates and failure patterns from DVSA tests — one evidence layer only.
Can I use MOT pass rate as a reliability score?
- No. Pass rate is the share of recorded MOT tests that passed. It does not prove mechanical reliability, repair cost, or which individual car to buy.