I am buying a second-hand car and want to know which make is least likely to break down.
The annual reliability surveys from warranty companies, consumer groups and the breakdown providers themselves have told a consistent story for two decades: Japanese and Korean brands (Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Suzuki, Kia, Hyundai) sit at the top, mainstream European brands in the middle, and premium German brands and some British and French marques lower down, with a wide spread between individual models in every brand.
Brand is only a starting point. Model, engine and year matter more — one engine in a range can be troublesome while the rest are fine — and the individual car's history matters most of all. A full service record, an MOT history free of recurring advisories (free to check online), and evidence that consumables like the cambelt and clutch have been done on schedule will tell you more than any league table.
For cover, the practical point is that whatever you buy, the most common breakdowns are batteries, tyres and electrics, which are maintenance issues rather than reliability ones. Buy cover at the level you need and keep the car serviced. Our answer on second-hand car reliability has the pre-purchase checks.
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