Most Reliable Cars in the UK 2024 - MOT Pass Rates Ranked
In 2024, a staggering 35.2 million cars were tested under the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (DVSA) Mandatory Examinations of Technical Sufficiency (MOT). This data reveals which car makes are passing their tests with flying colours and which ones are struggling to meet UK road safety standards.
Key Findings
The MOT pass rates for cars in the UK range from a high of 96.1% for certain models like the Toyota Yaris HEV and Lexus UX, down to a low of 69.7% for Chevrolet vehicles. The average MOT pass rate across all makes is 79.6%, which means that nearly one in four cars fail their annual safety test.
The Best Car Makes (Top 15)
| Make |
MOT Pass Rate (%) |
Number of Tests (in thousands) |
| Lexus |
88.4% |
159 |
| Tesla |
86.5% |
89 |
| BMW |
84.8% |
1,902 |
| Audi |
83.9% |
1,713 |
| Suzuki |
83.6% |
501 |
| Mini |
83.3% |
777 |
| Toyota |
82.8% |
1,596 |
| Honda |
82.7% |
1,035 |
| Land Rover |
82.6% |
942 |
| Kia |
81.4% |
952 |
The Worst Car Makes (Bottom 5)
The bottom five car makes based on their MOT pass rates are:
- Chevrolet: 69.7% (66,010 tests)
- Chrysler: 72.7% (18,546 tests)
- Renault: 74.3% (1,099,158 tests)
- Citroën: 75.3% (1,124,339 tests)
- Vauxhall: 76.6% (3,130,906 tests)
The Best Car Models in the UK
Among all tested models, these are the top three with their respective MOT pass rates:
- Toyota Yaris HEV: 96.1% (14,807 tests)
- Lexus UX: 96.1% (12,353 tests)
- Ford Puma MHEV: 95.2% (7,638 tests)
The Most Tested Car Models in the UK
Here are the car models that underwent the most MOT tests:
- Ford Fiesta: 1.4 million tests, pass rate 76.6%
- VW Golf: 853 thousand tests, pass rate 80.5%
- Ford Focus: 849 thousand tests, pass rate 78.1%
- Vauxhall Corsa: 775 thousand tests, pass rate 74.9%
Why Some Makes are More Reliable Than Others
The data highlights several reasons why certain car makes consistently outperform others in terms of reliability:
- Hybrid Technology: Models like the Toyota Yaris HEV and Ford Puma MHEV have impressively high pass rates, likely due to the advanced technology that reduces wear and tear on mechanical components.
- Japanese Brands: Japanese car manufacturers such as Lexus, Honda, and Toyota have established reputations for reliability, which is reflected in their superior MOT pass rates.
- Age Effect: Newer cars tend to perform better during MOT tests due to fewer years of use and less accumulated wear. For example, Tesla's high pass rate might be partly attributed to the relative newness of electric vehicles compared to traditional combustion engines.
Methodology
This analysis is based on DVSA data from 2024 that includes MOT test results for over 35 million cars. The data was analyzed using standard statistical methods and visualized in tables and graphs to highlight trends and patterns among different car makes.
Sources
- Data sourced from DVSA Open Government Licence v3.0