Compare Car Reliability by Reg 2026: Real MOT Data Beats Reviews

To compare the reliability of two used cars, do not start with owner surveys. Start with the cars' own MOT records. Every UK vehicle's full MOT history is public data: every pass, every failure, every advisory and the mileage recorded at each test. Put two regs into the free comparison tool and you see pass rates, advisory patterns and a 0-100 health score side by side, for the exact cars you are choosing between. Reviews describe the average example of a model; the MOT record describes the one with your name on the logbook.

Why the Same Model Can Score 85 or 58

Two cars of the same model and year can sit thirty points apart on a health score. The difference is history: one was serviced, driven gently and fixed promptly; the other skipped maintenance and carries four open advisories. Model-level reliability tables, however well researched, cannot see that difference. This is also why a comparison can surprise you: a 2019 Golf with a 100% pass rate can out-score a newer car with a patchy record.

Reliability Is Only Half the Buying Decision

A car can be mechanically dependable and still be a terrible purchase: outstanding finance means the lender can repossess it, an undisclosed write-off affects safety and resale, and a clocked odometer invalidates every assumption above. Reliability data is free; these provenance checks are where the paid report earns its £4.99. If you are comparing a shortlist, the comparison report runs every car through both layers, reliability and history, and gives a verdict on which to buy. For single-car depth, our guide to checking MOT history free covers the manual route.