Every year, millions of cars in the UK undergo an MOT test. The test checks that vehicles meet minimum safety and environmental standards, and the results are recorded by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). This data is publicly available under the Open Government Licence, and we have analysed it to answer a question every car buyer asks: which makes are the most reliable?
Our analysis covers millions of individual MOT test results across every major manufacturer. We calculated the first-time pass rate for each make, meaning the percentage of cars that pass their MOT on the first attempt, without needing any repairs. This is one of the most reliable indicators of real-world dependability, because it is based on actual inspections rather than surveys or manufacturer claims.
The Top 10 Most Reliable Car Makes
Japanese and Korean manufacturers dominate the top of the reliability table. This is not a new trend; these brands have consistently performed well in MOT data for years. Here are the top performers:
| Rank | Make | MOT Pass Rate | Key Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota | 92%+ | Yaris, Corolla, RAV4, Aygo |
| 2 | Honda | 91%+ | Jazz, Civic, CR-V, HR-V |
| 3 | Lexus | 91%+ | IS, NX, RX, CT |
| 4 | Mazda | 90%+ | 3, CX-5, MX-5, 2 |
| 5 | Suzuki | 89%+ | Swift, Vitara, Jimny, Ignis |
| 6 | Hyundai | 88%+ | i10, i20, Tucson, i30 |
| 7 | Kia | 88%+ | Picanto, Sportage, Ceed, Rio |
| 8 | Subaru | 87%+ | Outback, Forester, XV |
| 9 | Skoda | 86%+ | Fabia, Octavia, Superb, Karoq |
| 10 | Volkswagen | 85%+ | Polo, Golf, Tiguan, Passat |
Toyota's dominance is consistent year after year. The Yaris in particular is one of the most reliable cars you can buy at any age. The Honda Jazz is another standout, regularly achieving pass rates above 93% even at 10 years old. You can explore the full data on our reliability rankings page.
The Bottom 10: Least Reliable Makes
At the other end of the scale, some brands consistently show higher failure rates. This does not mean every car from these manufacturers is unreliable, but on average, they are more likely to fail an MOT than their counterparts from the top of the table.
| Rank | Make | MOT Pass Rate | Common Failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chrysler | 68% | Suspension, emissions, corrosion |
| 2 | Chevrolet | 71% | Brakes, exhaust, electrical |
| 3 | Dodge | 72% | Suspension, brakes, corrosion |
| 4 | Jeep | 73% | Suspension, steering, emissions |
| 5 | Renault | 76% | Electrical, suspension, brakes |
| 6 | Peugeot | 77% | Electrical, exhaust, suspension |
| 7 | Citroen | 77% | Suspension, electrical, emissions |
| 8 | Fiat | 78% | Corrosion, exhaust, suspension |
| 9 | Alfa Romeo | 78% | Electrical, brakes, emissions |
| 10 | Land Rover | 79% | Suspension, brakes, electrical |
American brands (Chrysler, Chevrolet, Dodge) tend to perform poorly because many of the cars still on UK roads are older imports with parts availability issues. French brands (Renault, Peugeot, Citroen) have improved significantly in recent years, but older models drag down the overall average.
What Causes MOT Failures?
The most common MOT failure categories across all makes are:
- Lighting and signalling (30%): Blown bulbs, cracked lenses, misaligned headlights. These are the most common failures and also the cheapest to fix, often costing less than £20.
- Suspension (18%): Worn shock absorbers, damaged springs, perished bushes, anti-roll bar links. These failures become more common as cars age and accumulate mileage. Repair costs range from £50 for a drop link to £400+ for a full set of shock absorbers.
- Brakes (15%): Worn pads, damaged discs, corroded pipes, seized calipers. Brake failures are both common and important; if your brakes are failing MOT, they are a safety risk. A full brake service costs £200 to £500 depending on the car.
- Tyres (10%): Below minimum tread depth, damage, or incorrect size. Budget £60 to £150 per tyre depending on the car.
- Emissions (8%): Excessive exhaust emissions, usually caused by a faulty catalytic converter, lambda sensor, or engine management issue. These can be expensive to fix, sometimes over £1,000 for a new catalytic converter.
- Bodywork and structure (7%): Corrosion affecting structural integrity, sharp edges, and insecure panels. Structural corrosion is often the death knell for older cars, as repair costs can exceed the vehicle's value.
How Age Affects MOT Pass Rates
All cars become less reliable with age, but the rate of decline varies significantly by make. Here is a general picture:
- 3 years old: Most cars pass easily. Average pass rate across all makes is around 90%.
- 5 years old: Pass rates start to diverge. Japanese cars still achieve 88%+, while some European brands drop below 80%.
- 7 years old: The gap widens further. This is where brand reliability becomes most apparent. A 7-year-old Toyota typically passes at 85%+, while a 7-year-old Renault might be closer to 72%.
- 10 years old: Even reliable makes see their pass rates drop to the low 80s. Less reliable makes can be below 65%.
- 15 years old: Only the most durable cars maintain pass rates above 70%. At this age, maintenance history matters more than the badge on the bonnet.
You can check the reliability data for any specific model and year on our running costs by model pages, or enter a specific registration to see the individual MOT history for any car.
Does Price Correlate with Reliability?
Not as much as you might expect. Some of the most reliable cars on UK roads are among the cheapest to buy. The Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i10, and Suzuki Swift all feature in the top 10 for reliability and can be bought used for under £5,000. Meanwhile, some premium brands, particularly Land Rover and Jaguar, have MOT pass rates that are below the national average despite costing significantly more to purchase.
This does not mean premium cars are bad. They often offer better driving experiences, more features, and higher-quality materials. But from a pure reliability perspective, you are often better off with a well-maintained Japanese car than an older premium European model.
What This Means for Car Buyers
When choosing a used car, the MOT pass rate for that specific make, model, and year is one of the best predictors of what you will spend on repairs. A car with a 92% pass rate will, on average, cost you significantly less in garage bills than one with a 75% pass rate. Over a five-year ownership period, this difference can easily exceed £2,000.
Use our reliability rankings to compare makes and models before you start shopping. Then, once you have found a specific car, use our free car check to see its individual MOT history, health score, and predicted running costs.
Methodology
Our MOT pass rate data comes from the DVSA's publicly available MOT testing data, released under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We calculate first-time pass rates by dividing the number of initial tests that resulted in a pass by the total number of initial tests for each make. Re-tests (where a car fails and then passes after repair) are not counted as initial passes. Only makes with a statistically significant number of tests are included in the rankings.
The data is updated periodically as new MOT results are published. Individual car checks via our tool use real-time data from the DVSA MOT History API.