Which used cars are the most reliable?
Data created
By CARMOTIQ research team · Age band: 5–10 years (first registered about 2016–2021) · Min 25k tests per model in ranking tables
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.
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.
Related
Free answer pages stop here. Use the research tools to shortlist — credits unlock deeper defect detail.