Second-hand car prices fall by average 13.1% year-on-year – but which cars are most reliable?

(Approx: 7min read)

A recent article by The Sun has revealed a market-wide drop in second-hand car prices between 2024-2025, going on to list twenty-five internal combustion engine (ICE) cars that have seen the most significant price drops in the past 12 months. 

So, we thought we’d reveal exactly which of the cars that have seen significant price drops are the most reliable to run, to give UK car buyers an even wider picture, and in turn the best chance of avoiding unexpected breakdowns/repairs after making any second-hand car purchase. 

The reliability and repair data in this article is powered by Warrantywise’s Reliability Index, which uses repair data from thousands upon thousands of vehicles on-plan to allocate an Overall Reliability Score (OVR) to every make and model, giving consumers the best insights into the reliability of cars available in the UK. 

Key facts at a glance:

• The Sun reports that the UK’s second-hand car market is seeing value falls in the year period to 2025, especially for certain categories of car.  

• According to the article, there is a reported average price decline of 13.1% across the whole second-hand market. 

• Whilst EVs and hybrids have seen the sharpest price drops, traditional petrol and diesel models including the Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz, Renault Clio and Vauxhall Mokka are each reported to have fallen by more than 20%. 

• The models on the article’s list that also score highly on Warrantywise’s Reliability Index are the Renault Clio, Hyundai i10, Honda Jazz, Kia Picanto, Toyota Yaris and Toyota Aygo. 

• The Toyota Yaris is the Reliability Index’s most highly-rated car for reliability, scoring an incredibly impressive 92.8/100 across all models we have on-plan. 

• It is vitally important to consider other factors than just the price of the car when making a purchase. Look at full-service history and previous usage and mileage to get a wider picture of the vehicle you are purchasing. 

• Consider an extended warranty on any second-hand car purchase to avoid unexpected repair costs. 

So, why are second-hand car prices falling?

According to The Sun’s article, the fall in second-hand car prices comes down to several key factors: 
 

• A rise in available stock in the second-hand market. 

• Post-pandemic normalisation of supply chains. 

• Changing buyer preferences, especially towards EVs and hybrids. 

The combined effect of all these factors means buyers can now find much bigger bargains in the second-hand market than in recent years. 

Is this a win-win situation for second-hand car buyers?

On one hand, lower prices may allow buyers to get more value. On the other, a cheaper purchase price doesn’t automatically equate to lower cost of ownership. Keeping your car well maintained and therefore more reliable is the smartest way to save money on running costs.

If you buy a car model that’s known for reliability problems, you could end up spending more on repairs than you saved on the purchase price.

That’s why our Reliability Index is such a valuable tool for smart second-hand car buyers. It helps you understand the real costs of ownership before you buy.  

How our Reliability Index works:

• The Index is built on real repair data, not surveys or manufacturer requests. 

• It includes vehicles aged roughly 3 to 12 years old, using a large number of warranty plans to make the results accurate and meaningful.

• Scoring is driven by several factors: how often repairs are needed, the average age when repairs are needed, the average mileage when repairs are needed and how long on average those repairs take to complete. These figures all feed into each model’s Overall Reliability (OVR) Score out of 100. 

• It is important to remember even high-scoring models can have issues; the Index helps set expectations rather than guarantee zero problems. 

Basically, a higher score means a model, on average, tends to require fewer or less serious repairs. It’s an excellent tool for understanding long-term value, aside from the car’s price tag. 

Which of the price-dropped cars are most reliable? Here’s the list:

Below is a list of the twenty-five internal combustion engine vehicles the article lists as having the most significant 2024-2025 price drops (ordered by % price drop) with added information for each, exclusively provided by our Reliability Index: 

NOTE: A ‘highest repair request’ is the largest single repair price ever quoted to us to repair any given issue on that model of car.

*We cannot provide data on individual MINI models.

Key takeaways from the data:

• The Toyota Yaris reports a fantastic reliability score (92.8/100) in addition to a massive 23% price reduction 2024-2025. Therefore, it could be a very strong option for those looking to pick up their next second-hand vehicle. 

• The Kia Picanto also reports both a very strong reliability score (86.8/100) and an attractive price reduction of 12%.  

• The Ford Focus – the car with the most significant price-drop on the list (25%) -also reports the lowest reliability score (61.5/100), according to Warrantywise data.  

• Other Ford models – such as the Fiesta – possibly provide more balance for buyers. Although the famous hatchback has a slightly lower price reduction than that of the Focus (22%), it also boasts a much higher reliability index score, 72.8. 

Lower cost, but higher risk?

You can use the Reliability Index data above to make a much more informed decision on any potential purchases of these models. As the data clearly shows, lower prices at point-of-sale don’t necessarily mean a cheaper car overall. 

If, for example, a particular model has had a big price drop but reports a mid-range or poor reliability score (e.g. the Ford Focus with a mid-range score of 61.5/100), price alone might not make it a worthwhile purchase.  

The cost of ownership over time may be higher. Buyers should factor in potential repair bills, consumables and other costs associated to vehicle ownership. 

The importance of repair history and extended warranties:

Regardless of reliability score, every second-hand car is susceptible to unexpected repair costs. Our ‘highest repair request’ figures in the data above remind us of that.  

Even the Toyota Yaris – very highly positioned in terms of its reliability score – reports the highest repair request of £2,366. Enough to concern anyone, especially if it comes out of the blue.  

As a result, insisting on a full-service history and understanding the vehicle’s prior usage and mileage can allow you to more accurately predict its potential hidden costs. 

In addition, including an extended warranty can add another layer of protection against unexpected bills. 

Consider the age of the car you are purchasing:

Given that the average age of UK cars is now nearly 10 years (according to our October 2025 update), buyers are often looking at cars in the 8-12-year category. Reliability scores for this age bracket matter more than ever.  

When you combine the cars from The Sun’s article with our Reliability Index data specifically from our 8–12-year-old models on-plan, the following vehicles stand out in terms of their reliability index scores: 

• Toyota Yaris – 93.6/100 

• Honda Civic – 93.0/100 

• Toyota Aygo – 85.5/100 

• Renault Clio – 80.3/100 

If you’re buying a decade-old car, this kind of insight pays. 

Think about the wider context for price reductions:

When a car has dropped significantly in value, consider why the drop is happening. In some cases, it might be because of newer model releases, excess supply, or fuel types (EV/hybrid) rather than reliability. 

However, it may also reflect issues around reliability, parts supply or technology that requires specialist repair. Our reliability data tends to show older ICE models (especially Japanese-made) still performing well, which suggests that value and reliability can co-exist if you pick wisely. 

Conclusion:

The second-hand car market in 2025 is a fascinating one.  

The Sun’s article highlights significant value drops across many models, giving buyers more opportunity and flexibility. It also serves as a reminder that reliability still matters just as much as price. 

At Warrantywise, we believe that buying a second-hand car should be about balance – between the price you pay, the likely running costs and the peace of mind you’ll have owning the vehicle. Putting together the two datasets – price drops from The Sun and scores from our Reliability Index – allows you to make smarter choices.  

For example, if you see a Toyota Yaris or Honda Civic holding their value well, they could be smart choices. But if a car’s price has dropped sharply and it has a low reliability score, it’s worth taking a closer look and planning for possible repair costs.

Even the most reliable cars can have problems—that’s why an extended warranty gives you extra peace of mind. It’s not about worrying, it’s about being prepared.

Our friendly warranty experts are here to help. Choose peace of mind with Warrantywise. Drive confidently everywhere, every day.