Car reliability by make and model, from 94.4m MOT tests
How every common car performs at its MOT, computed from 94,392,068 tests recorded by DVSA in 2023 to 2025. 35 makes and 690 models, each with pass rates by year and mileage, the defects that fail it most and the advisories that precede them. Nothing here is a survey or an owner poll: every figure is a count of real tests.
Among makes with at least half a million tests, BMW has the highest raw pass rate at 78.8% and Renault the lowest at 62%. Raw rates reward young fleets, though: a ten-year-old car of any make fails far more often than a four-year-old one, so the table below also shows each model against cars of the same age.
The cleanest measure of how well a car is built is its first MOT at three years old. On that measure Lexus leads the makes we can measure, with 94.6% of its cars passing their first test.
Most reliable cars, age-adjusted
Models with at least 100,000 tests, ranked by how far their pass rate sits above that of cars tested at the same age. A score of +5 means the model passes five points more often than a typical car of its age.
| Model | Age-adjusted | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche 911 | +19.5 | 89% | 123,375 |
| BMW Z4 | +12.8 | 77.1% | 103,933 |
| Audi TT | +11.5 | 76.2% | 335,445 |
| Mazda MX-5 | +11.3 | 75.4% | 238,969 |
| Fiat Ducato | +11.1 | 74.5% | 188,884 |
| Honda CR-V | +9.9 | 74.2% | 588,597 |
| Honda Jazz | +9.8 | 74.4% | 1,000,226 |
| BMW 520 | +9.6 | 77.1% | 223,070 |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK | +9.4 | 72.3% | 158,254 |
| Audi A6 | +8.6 | 79.3% | 371,991 |
Least reliable cars, age-adjusted
| Model | Age-adjusted | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Kangoo | -16.1 | 54.1% | 164,597 |
| Vauxhall Vivaro | -15.8 | 54.9% | 484,286 |
| Citroen DS3 | -14.9 | 52.2% | 211,575 |
| Citroen Dispatch | -14.9 | 58.6% | 131,260 |
| Citroen Berlingo | -14.6 | 58.5% | 544,747 |
| Renault Trafic | -14.4 | 58.4% | 316,369 |
| Renault Clio | -12.6 | 56.9% | 953,866 |
| Peugeot Partner | -12.1 | 62.3% | 449,725 |
| Vauxhall Combo | -11.7 | 60.1% | 280,101 |
| Renault Megane | -11.6 | 54.7% | 316,995 |
Latest model reportsHonda HR-VAudi Q7Hyundai i20Audi A1Volkswagen PoloRenault KadjarVauxhall ComboVauxhall Vivaro
Every make
Questions people ask
What is the most reliable car in the UK?
On age-adjusted MOT data the Porsche 911 leads, passing 19.5 points more often than a typical car of the same age, followed by the BMW Z4 and Audi TT. Among makes with half a million or more tests, BMW has the highest raw pass rate at 78.8%.
What does the MOT pass rate tell you about reliability?
Whether a car arrives at its annual test with a defect serious enough to fail it. That covers wear items like brakes, tyres and suspension as well as corrosion, lights and emissions, so it is a measure of how a model holds up in real use rather than of breakdowns. Age matters more than make, which is why we also show an age-adjusted figure.
Why is the age-adjusted figure different from the pass rate?
A model that is only sold new has young cars on the road and a high raw pass rate; a model discontinued years ago is tested only as an old car. The age-adjusted figure compares each model with cars of the same age, so a ten-year-old Fiesta is judged against other ten-year-old cars.
Where does the data come from?
The DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results dataset, 2023 to 2025: every class 4 test in Great Britain with the make, model, first-use year, mileage, result and defects. Nothing is surveyed or estimated.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 to 2025. Class 4 cars, normal tests only; a pass after rectification counts as an initial failure. Methodology.