VehicleScore Research
Original UK vehicle-history research
VehicleScore Research reports aggregate results from vehicles checked through the service. MOT histories and paid history checks are counted separately. Each article gives the sample, the comparison, and a download of the figures it actually uses. The dataset is not every vehicle in the UK.
Annual reports
MOT and reliability indicators
- MOT and reliability indicators · 27 September 2026Common MOT problems: what the records showTyre comments on 81.4% of vehicles, but only 15.4% of those comments were failures.
- MOT and reliability indicators · 27 September 2026MOT pass rate by vehicle agePass rate falls from 87.4% at ages 0–2 to 71.3% at 15 or over.
- MOT and reliability indicators · 27 September 2026MOT pass rates by popular car modelAge-standardised pass rates for large models run from 80.8% (Audi A3) to 69.6% (Vauxhall Vivaro).
Model research
- Model research · 27 September 2026Nissan Qashqai: track-rod comments in the MOT dataTrack-rod comments on 30.3% of 8,232 Qashqais aged 9–11 at 60,000–119,999 miles, against 6.6%.
- Model research · 27 September 2026Ford Fiesta: ball-joint comments in the MOT dataBall-joint comments on 29.4% of 22,248 Fiestas aged 9–11 at 60,000–119,999 miles, against 9.4%.
- Model research · 27 September 2026Peugeot 208: exhaust comments, mostly not failuresExhaust comments on 29.3% of 7,472 young 208s, against 2.5%. 18.5% of the comments were failures.
- Model research · 27 September 2026Renault Clio: coil-spring comments that usually failCoil-spring comments on 20.6% of 7,445 Clios aged 6–8 under 60,000 miles. 89.2% were failures.
- Model research · 27 September 2026Vauxhall Corsa: windscreen comments, then oil leaksWindscreen comments on 28.1% of 27,066 Corsas aged 3–5 under 60,000 miles, against 12.8%.
- Model research · 27 September 2026Volkswagen Golf: shock-absorber comments, rarely failuresShock-absorber comments on 23.2% of 20,572 Golfs aged 6–8 at 60,000–119,999 miles, against 7.3%.
- Model research · 27 September 2026Ford Focus: suspension-arm comments on older carsSuspension-arm comments on 30.2% of 11,053 Focuses aged 12–14 at 60,000–119,999 miles, against 18.5%.
- Model research · 27 September 2026Fiat 500: shock-absorber and exhaust commentsShock-absorber comments on 40.1% of 5,170 Fiat 500s aged 9–11 at 60,000–119,999 miles, against 10.1%.
- Model research · 27 September 2026Volkswagen Polo: exhaust comments on older carsExhaust comments on 34.0% of 9,938 Polos aged 12–14 at 60,000–119,999 miles, against 17.3%.
Vehicle history and risk markers
- Vehicle history and risk markers · 27 September 2026Outstanding finance on used cars15.6% of 82,073 vehicles with a known finance result had a marker. The rate was 42.3% at ages 0–2.
- Vehicle history and risk markers · 27 September 2026Insurance write-offs on vehicles checked through VehicleScore11,156 of 82,073 vehicles with a known write-off result carried a CAT marker (13.6%).
- Vehicle history and risk markers · 27 September 2026CAT S and CAT N in VehicleScore’s write-off recordsCAT N 48.7% and CAT S 45.1% of CAT-marked vehicles. 1,626 had a salvage flag and no CAT marker.
- Vehicle history and risk markers · 27 September 2026Mileage discrepancies in MOT historyA later mileage reading was lower on 4.9% of 1,136,102 vehicles. No model ranking is published.