The average car on UK roads is now 10 years, which is the oldest figure ever recorded. This is according to new analysis from the RAC Foundation. As more and more drivers choose to hold on to their vehicles for longer, Warrantywise has released new data showing which older cars are proving themselves to be most reliable.
Thousands of real-world warranty claims were looked at through the Warrantywise Reliability Index, focusing specifically on vehicles aged 8 to 12 years old.
UK Cars Are Getting Older
At the end of 2024, the average car on UK roads was nine years and ten months old. Warrantywise suggests several factors have caused the increase such as rising living costs, delays in the new car supply chain, and uncertainty around future fuel and emissions regulations. Combined, these have led many motorists to hold off on buying a new car and instead stick with what they have.
To help drivers better understand what they might expect from their older cars, Warrantywise ranked the top ten most reliable models in the 8 to12-year-old bracket. The Toyota Yaris came out on top, followed by the Honda Civic and Honda CR-V. But the results also reveal how repair costs can vary widely, even among reliable models.
For example, the Mitsubishi Outlander ranked fifth for reliability but had the highest single repair bill at over £9,500. On the other end of the scale, the Toyota Aygo had the lowest average repair cost at just £399.
“With cars on the road for longer than ever before, our data reveals some surprising insights about which models truly deliver long-term value. While Toyota and Honda continue to dominate for reliability, what’s particularly striking is how repair costs can vary dramatically even among dependable vehicles. This transparency is crucial as drivers navigate an increasingly complex used car market.”
Antony Diggins, Managing Director at Warrantywise
| Position | Make/Model | Average Repair Request | Highest Repair Request | Overall Reliability Score (only 8–12-year-old models considered) |
| 1 | Toyota Yaris | £651 | £2,312 | 93.6 |
| 2 | Honda Civic | £778 | £4,170 | 93.0 |
| 3 | Honda CR-V | £1,027 | £3,716 | 89.0 |
| 4 | Suzuki Swift | £827 | £3,993 | 86.5 |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Outlander | £1,201 | £9,531 | 85.9 |
| 6 | Toyota Aygo | £399 | £1,297 | 85.5 |
| 7 | SEAT Ibiza | £758 | £3,876 | 81.5 |
| 8 | Ford Mondeo | £1,047 | £4,908 | 80.9 |
| 9 | Renault Clio | £693 | £3,496 | 80.3 |
| =10 | Ford Ka | £572 | £2,049 | 79.6 |
| =10 | Citroën C1 | £800 | £4,536 | 79.6 |
| =10 | MINI Hatchback | £1,095 | £6,957 | 79.6 |
For more information, visit: www.warrantywise.co.uk
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