The most-bought used cars and what to check on each

The ten at a glance

In SMMT’s sales order, with our count of their MOTs in February and March 2025. Across every car first registered from 2015 to 2017, 76.3% passed first time.

SMMT: Used car salesDVSA: Anonymised MOT tests and results

Ford Fiesta

Of 60,863 Fiestas tested, 69.0% passed first time. The commonest single fail was a brake light that didn’t work, on 7.9% of tests. Worn suspension ball joints (3.4%) and broken coil springs (3.1%) came next. At a viewing, ask someone to watch every brake light while you press the pedal.

Vauxhall Corsa

Of 39,625 Corsas, 66.3% passed first time, the lowest of the ten. Broken coil springs were the commonest fail, on 7.8% of tests. A damaged dust cover on a track rod end was close behind at 7.5%. Ask whether the springs have been replaced and read the steering and suspension advisories.

Volkswagen Golf

Of 34,039 Golfs, 84.2% passed first time, the best of the ten. Its weak spot is the shock absorbers: 16.5% of tests had an advisory for a light misting of oil on one. Another 2.1% failed on a serious leak. Look for oil on the shock absorbers and ask whether any have been replaced.

Ford Focus

Of 36,326 Focuses, 77.9% passed first time. Lights and tyres caused most fails. A tyre pressure warning system that didn’t work failed 2.8% of tests. Check that no warning light stays on once the engine has started.

Volkswagen Polo

Of 26,284 Polos, 74.2% passed first time. Worn suspension pins and bushes were the commonest fail, on 5.0% of tests. Another 12.1% had an advisory for them. Brakes failed 7.8% of tests, more than on any other model in the ten.

MINI hatchback

Of 23,352 MINI hatchbacks, 83.5% passed first time. No single fault stood out. Tyres, wipers and lights caused most fails: a wiper that didn’t clear the screen failed 2.6% of tests. DVSA records the hatchback as the Cooper, Cooper S, One and other versions. We counted them together.

Nissan Qashqai

Of 30,174 Qashqais, 73.6% passed first time. Brake pads worn below 1.5 mm were the commonest fail, on 4.2% of tests. A further 15.4% had an advisory for thin pads. Worn ball joints and broken coil springs each failed 3.3%.

BMW 3 Series

Of 15,938 3 Series cars, 83.3% passed first time, with the highest middle mileage of the ten at 81,100. Tyres caused most fails. A shock absorber with a serious leak failed 1.8% of tests. DVSA records some as 320 and other versions, which we counted with the rest.

Vauxhall Astra

Of 26,025 Astras, 74.1% passed first time. A tyre pressure warning system that didn’t work was the commonest fail, on 4.5% of tests. Worn brake pads and broken coil springs each failed 3.0%.

Audi A3

Of 20,257 A3s, 82.5% passed first time. Its fails were mostly tyres and brake wear, the parts every car gets through. Brake disc advisories turned up on 10.5% of tests.

What these figures can’t tell you

They describe thousands of cars. The one in front of you has its own record. Read its MOT history and check that the faults its model is known for have been dealt with.

Run the free MOT checkMost reliable used carsGOV.UK: The MOT test

How we counted

The sales order is SMMT’s, for used car sales from April to June 2026. The MOT figures are our own count of DVSA’s anonymised data from June 2026: every normal MOT in February and March 2025 on these models first registered from 2015 to 2017.

A test counts as a fail on a part if the tester recorded an item there that fails the test, including one repaired within the hour. Every share is of all the MOTs on that model.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

SMMT: Used car salesDVSA: Anonymised MOT tests and results