Used car MOT research by brand

best of 4: Ford Kuga

Ford is the largest make in the UK MOT corpus. Don't gamble on a used Fiesta, Focus, or Kuga — compare how each model fails MOT at typical mileages, not just one registration check.

18.7 million vehicles · 8.9M tests at 5–10 years · top model Transit

best of 4: Vauxhall Astra

Vauxhall Corsa and Astra dominate the UK used market. Don't shortlist blind — MOT data shows how neglect, wear, and model-specific faults stack up.

9.9 million vehicles · 5.9M tests at 5–10 years · top model Corsa

best of 4: Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf and Polo are perennial shortlist picks. Don't gamble — see how VW models perform in MOT data at 5–10 years, beyond one clean pass.

6.3 million vehicles · 5.6M tests at 5–10 years · top model Golf

best of 4: Peugeot 3008

Peugeot 208 and 2008 are among the most common young used buys. MOT research shows whether issues are mostly neglect, wear, or something more systemic — before you shortlist.

4.2 million vehicles · 3.0M tests at 5–10 years · top model 208

best of 4: BMW X1

BMW 1 Series, X1 and 3 Series fill UK used shortlists. Compare MOT pass rates and defect-note mix at 5–10 years before you treat one clean pass as the whole story.

3.9 million vehicles · 3.8M tests at 5–10 years · top model 118

best of 4: Audi Q3

Audi A3, A1 and A4 are high-volume used buys. These MOT snapshots show pass rates and how defect notes split — not a verdict on one seller’s car.

3.3 million vehicles · 3.6M tests at 5–10 years · top model A3

best of 4: Toyota Prius

Toyota Yaris, Aygo and Prius carry huge UK MOT volume. Use the 5–10 year pass rates and failure categories to research the model, then inspect the car in front of you.

3.2 million vehicles · 3.0M tests at 5–10 years · top model Yaris

best of 4: Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai and Juke dominate family crossovers. MOT pass rates and defect-note categories here are fleet signals for the age band — not a registration check.

3.4 million vehicles · 3.4M tests at 5–10 years · top model Qashqai

best of 4: Honda Jazz

Honda Jazz, Civic and CR-V show some of the stronger MOT pass rates in this age band. That is still a test outcome, not a reliability rating for one used example.

3.4 million vehicles · 1.2M tests at 5–10 years · top model Jazz

best of 4: Mercedes-Benz GLC

Mercedes-Benz A-Class, GLA and GLC are common used prestige picks. Compare MOT pass rates and the defect mix at 5–10 years before you shortlist on badge alone.

1.6 million vehicles · 2.3M tests at 5–10 years · top model A-Class

best of 4: Kia Niro

Kia Sportage, Picanto and Niro are high-volume used buys. MOT records here show pass rates and whether defect notes lean to maintenance, wear, or systemic wording.

1.5 million vehicles · 2.4M tests at 5–10 years · top model Sportage

best of 4: Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai Tucson, i10 and i20 fill supermarket-car parks. Research MOT pass rates and common failure categories for the model age band — then check the specific car.

1.5 million vehicles · 2.1M tests at 5–10 years · top model Tucson

best of 4: Skoda Karoq

Skoda Octavia, Fabia and Superb are staple UK used hatches. These MOT figures are 5–10 year fleet outcomes, not a promise that one example will pass next year.

1.4 million vehicles · 1.9M tests at 5–10 years · top model Octavia

best of 4: MINI Countryman

MINI Cooper, Countryman and Clubman share a small-car MOT footprint. Compare pass rates and defect-note categories before you buy on character alone.

1.1 million vehicles · 1.5M tests at 5–10 years · top model Cooper