When it comes to supercars the general rule is speed, handling, and looks take precedence over practicality and usability, with some exceptions, but for all those sacrifices you would also expect a top-quality car you can rely on. Uswitch car insurance experts have found which supercars are not only the most unreliable but also which cost the most to insure.
What are the most unreliable supercars?
| Manufacturer / Model | Number of recalls | Average number of recalls per year of production | Initial MOT failure rate (%) | Review score | Average score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maserati Granturismo | 8 | 0.5 | 16.83% | 3.4 | 0.6 |
| Ferrari 612 Scaglietti | 1 | 0.1 | 14.61% | 4 | 2.55 |
| Toyota GT86 | 3 | 0.3 | 12.94% | 4.2 | 2.9 |
| Aston Martin DB7 | 7 | 0.2 | 15.32% | 4.5 | 2.92 |
| Aston Martin DB9 | 11 | 0.6 | 10.61% | 4.2 | 3.08 |
| Lamborghini Urus | 3 | 0.6 | 8.00% | 3.9 | 3.09 |
| Ferrari Portofino | 4 | 0.8 | 8.26% | 4.1 | 3.25 |
| Lotus Evora | 5 | 0.4 | 11.32% | 4.5 | 3.38 |
| Ferrari F355 | 4 | 0.1 | 8.18% | 3.6 | 3.7 |
| Aston Martin DBS | 9 | 0.6 | 9.37% | 4.5 | 3.75 |
1. Maserati GranTurismo
Initial MOT failure rate (%) - 16.83%
Number of recalls - 8
Average number of recalls per year of production - 0.5
Review score 3.4
There is no doubt that the Maserati GranTurismo is an impressive car. Combining look-at-me features with speed makes it a highly revered supercar, but unfortunately, when it comes to unreliability, it tops the list. Despite having 83.17% pass their MOT first time, it has the lowest review score coming in at 3.4, the most recalls, and the highest number of recalls per year of production.
2. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Initial MOT failure rate (%) - 14.61%
Number of recalls - 1
Average number of recalls per year of production - 0.1
Review score 4
Ferrari is one of the world's most iconic brands and with 540 bhp under the hood combined with the ability to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds, it is no wonder why the 612 Scaglietti is so popular among enthusiasts. However, due to a relatively poor MOT pass rate, with 14.61% failing to pass first-time, the Ferrari is ranked as the second least reliable supercar on our list.
3. Toyota GT86
Initial MOT failure rate (%) - 12.94%
Number of recalls - 3
Average number of recalls per year of production - 0.3
Review score 4.2
Considering Toyota is known for making fun, affordable, and reliable performance cars, it was a surprise to see the Toyota GT86 ranked as the third least reliable supercar. It averages an overall score of 2.9/10 despite an industry review score of 4.2 out of 5 and an MOT pass rate of 87.06%
The most expensive supercars to insure
| Manufacturer / Model | Approx value | Median annual premium based on car value |
|---|---|---|
| Lamborghini Urus | £159,925 | £3,788.31 |
| Aston Martin DB7 | £61,786 | £2,675.56 |
| Toyota GT86 | £27,830 | £2,377.65 |
| Ferrari 612 Scaglietti | £98,366 | £2,113.96 |
| Maserati Granturismo | £34,924 | £2,081.13 |
| Ferrari Portofino | £177,017 | £1,856.44 |
| Aston Martin DB9 | £49,579 | £1,815.75 |
| Lotus Evora | £47,500 | £1,277.20 |
| Ferrari F355 | £78,692 | £1,003.35 |
| Aston Martin DBS | £159,830 | £917.55 |
As you can see the price of the annual premium varies, from the most expensive (Lamborghini Urus) coming in at £3788.31 and the lowest (Aston Martin DBS) being a respectable £917.55. It is important to consider a variety of factors before buying a supercar, including the car's age, its price, its replacement costs and parts, its likelihood of being stolen, and more. Obviously, these factors all have a direct impact on the amount of premium you will have to pay for your car insurance.
Supercars are considered non-standard for most insurers. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to charge higher premiums for high-performance sports cars due to the higher risk they represent.
The most unreliable hybrid and full electric supercars
| Manufacturer / Model | Number of recalls | Average number of recalls per year of production | Initial MOT failure rate (%) | Review score | Average score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguar I-Pace | 2 | 0.4 | 8.45% | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| Ferrari LaFerrari | 6 | 0.7 | 3.13% | 4.8 | 4 |
| BMW i8 | 6 | 0.7 | 10.88% | 4.4 | 6.5 |
| Lexus LS600H | 0 | 0 | 10.38% | 3.8 | 7.2 |
1. Jaguar I-Pace
Initial MOT failure rate (%) - 8.45%
Number of recalls - 2
Average number of recalls per year of production - 0.4
Review score 3.3
As Jaguar's first all-electric supercar, the I-PACE offers you the looks of a concept car and the practicality of an SUV. Capable of 0-60mph in 4.5 secs. Unfortunately, with the lowest overall review score out of petrol, hybrid and electric, this all-electric supercar finds itself as the least reliable.
2. Ferrari LaFerrari
Initial MOT failure rate (%) - 3.13%
Number of recalls - 6
Average number of recalls per year of production - 0.7
Review score 4.8
Ferrari's LaFerrari is the first ever production car to be equipped with a hybrid system, combining an electric motor and Ferrari's classic V12. This supercar reaches staggering speeds of 217mph and goes from 0-60mph in under 3 seconds, but due to a high number of recalls and an overall average score of 4/10, the LaFerrari is the second least reliable EV/hybrid supercar.
3. BMW i8
Initial MOT failure rate (%) - 10.88%
Number of recalls - 6
Average number of recalls per year of production - 0.7
Review score 4.4
The third least reliable car on our list is the BWM i8, even though it is the highest-selling plug-in hybrid electric sports car in history with over 20,000 sales. Unfortunately, the supercar had a large number of recalls which affected it’s reliability and ultimately position in our list. The i8 was discontinued in June 2020.
The most expensive EV supercars to insure
| Manufacturer / Model | Approx value | Median annual premium based on car value |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrari LaFerrari | £1,380,000 | £10,014.50 |
| BMW i8 | £109,195 | £1,282.76 |
| Lexus LS600H | £19,337 | £999.50 |
| Jaguar I-Pace | £69,995 | £931.65 |
Everyone dreams of owning a luxurious, powerful supercar. For some, dreams come true. However, an investment like a supercar requires study and research. Electric car insurance is more expensive than conventional insurance, due to the need for specialist parts and servicing. There are specialist electric car insurance companies that offer tailored policies for low emissions vehicles.
As you can see from the table above the most expensive EV/Hybrid supercar to insure by a country mile is the Ferrari LaFerrari, the sheer cost of the car almost guarantees high premiums when it comes to insuring it. The BMW i8 comes in with a respectable £1282.76 then the Lexus LS600H in third place as the most expensive super to insure.
How to save on your car insurance:
Compare different car insurance quotes
It's easy to assume that third-party car insurance is the cheapest option since it offers the most basic level of coverage. There is no guarantee that this will always be the case since car insurance prices are determined by the circumstances of each individual. Check out our site and compare car insurance quotes for third-party, comprehensive, and third-party fire & theft prices.
Usually, the cost of a car correlates with the amount it costs to repair it. Generally, cars with high parts costs are more expensive to repair and, therefore, placed in higher car insurance groups.
Pay annually for your insurance
A good way to reduce the cost of your car insurance is by paying annually rather than monthly. Paying your car insurance monthly may seem more convenient, but it will increase your monthly payment as insurers will charge you interest to split the payments over the year.
Consider your mileage
By reducing your mileage on your insurance policy, you might expect to see a reduction in your premium. Sadly it's not quite that simple. People with lower mileage tend to drive on different roads at different times than people who drive more. That means it’s important to put in an honest estimate of your mileage to get the most appropriate cover for you.
Research the type of car
Keep in mind that the model of the car you drive can significantly impact your insurance premiums, with some models offering lower rates, on average than others. Always check which insurance group a car is in before you consider buying it.
Smaller engines are more likely to fall into a low insurance band, which leads to cheaper costs for these cars. A 1.1-litre hatchback, for instance, would be less expensive than an SUV with a powerful engine. smaller-engine cars should also have lower road tax.
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FAQs
What is considered a supercar?
As the name implies, supercars are high-performance, road-legal cars. There are several well-known supercar brands that have become easily recognisable due to their speed and performance. These brands include Ferrari, McLaren, and Lamborghini. The average price tag for a supercar in the UK is more than £770,000
Are supercars manual or automatic?
You may be surprised to learn that they are often automatic, but why do most supercars have automatic transmissions? Firstly, manual transmissions are slower than automatic options when it comes to 0-60 mph times. The reason for this is that automatic transmissions are more efficient than manual transmissions at shifting gears. Also, manual transmissions are becoming less popular due to the fact that more people learn to drive automatic cars only. Last but not least, supercars have between 9-12 gears, and shifting through them manually would be tough.
How much is supercar insurance?
Supercar insurance will be more expensive than standard motor insurance. The high speed and huge value of performance cars make them a higher risk for insurers.
When looking at supercar insurance its important to remember that the cost will vary from person to person as there are many contributing factors such as age, make/model, cars safety, cost of replacement parts, driving history and even modifications.
How to insure a supercar?
Supercar insurance is a specialist policy designed exclusively to meet the needs of supercar owners. It is unlikely that you will be able to obtain the right type of insurance for your supercar (which is expensive and fast) if you use a standard market policy from an insurer.
Unreliable supercars 2022
Supercars are some of the most beautiful cars on the planet and are seen as the peak of car ownership, but they’re also the most expensive, and that’s before you even consider the cost of car insurance.
Even non-petrolheads can admire the beauty of a passing Ferrari or Lamborghini, but for all of that money, you’d also surely be expecting a top-quality vehicle that you can rely on.
However, a supercar can break down just like any other car, or even worse, be recalled by the manufacturer.
So, which supercars are the most unreliable? To find out, we’ve ranked some popular models on the number that pass their MOT first time, the number that have been recalled, and reviews in the motoring press.
The least reliable supercars
1. Mercedes-AMG GT
Initial MOT pass rate: 92.8%
Number of recalls: 18
Average recalls per year of production: 2.6
Review score: 4.1
The Mercedes-AMG GT is an impressive car, but it came at the bottom of our rankings, largely due to the number of times it has been recalled, with 18 instances (2.6 for each of the seven years it has been in production). However, the GT also performed relatively poorly on its industry review score, with 4.1 (with most supercars scoring 4.5 or over).
2. Porsche 911
Initial MOT pass rate: 87%
Number of recalls: 17
Average recalls per year of production: 0.6
Review score: 4.8
Probably the most recognisable Porsche of all time, the 911 has been in continuous production since 1964 and despite a very impressive review score of 4.8 out of 5, ranked as the second-least reliable car on our list due to a high number of recalls and relatively poor MOT pass rate, with just 87% passing first-time.
3. Maserati GranTurismo
Initial MOT pass rate: 82.2% #
Number of recalls: 0.7
Average recalls per year of production: 0.6
Review score: 3.4
The third-least reliable supercar on our list was the Maserati GranTurismo, which had the lowest industry review score, at 3.4 out of 5, as well as a relatively low MOT first time pass rate of 82.2%. The GranTurismo is a grand tourer that set a record for being the most quickly developed car in the industry, going from design to production in just nine months.
The worst supercar for…
MOT pass rate: Maserati GranTurismo (82.2%)
The MOT test is a vital way of testing the roadworthiness and safety of a vehicle and of the supercars that we looked at, it was the Maserati GranTurismo that had the lowest rate of first-time passes, with just 82.2% passing their initial test.
Recalls: Mercedes-AMG GT (18)
Cars can be recalled when there’s a serious safety problem and you wouldn’t necessarily expect them to happen to supercars. As well as being the most unreliable car on our list overall, the Mercedes-AMG GT had the most recalls, with 18. Even when we take into account the number of years the car has been in production (7) then the GT still has 2.6 recalls per year.
Reviews: Maserati GranTurismo (3.4 out of 5)
While you would expect supercars to all have near-perfect reviews, that’s not always the case, as shown by the Maserati GranTurismo, which holds a score out of 3.4 out of 5 on Parkers. While by no means an awful score, it’s the lowest on our list.
Uswitch.com car insurance expert, Florence Codjoe comments:
“For petrol heads around the world, the peak in their life and career is when they can afford a supercar. However, after years of saving for their dream car, the last thing they want is it to be unreliable.
“Three different manufacturers appear in the top 3 most unreliable supercars, the Mercedes-AMG GT ranks as the least reliable, followed by the Porsche 911 and the Maserati GranTurismo respectively.
“The Maserati GranTurismo also had the lowest rate of first-time MOT passes, with just 82.2% passing their initial test, meaning the car can start costing a lot of money just three years in!
“The Mercedes-AMG GT was the most unreliable car on our list and also had the most recalls, with 18 recalls. Porsche followed closely behind with 2 models having the second, and third highest number of recalls, with the Porsche 911 (17 recalls) and Porsche Panamera (15 recalls).
Methodology and sources
The initial list of cars taken from https://www.supercarworld.com/, filtered for models with at least 50 UK MOT tests in 2021 that have a scored review from the Parkers website.
Metric Notes Source Last updated
initial failure rate (%)
% is the number of standard MOT tests that initially resulted in failure divided by the total number of tests, for cars matching the make, model and years of production. https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/e3939ef8-30c7-4ca8-9c7c-ad9475cc9b2f/anonymised-mot-tests-and-results
Data includes all tests conducted in 2021
recalls
Number of recalls divided by the number of years between 2023 and the year car was launched https://www.check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk/recall-type 2022
Reviews
Latest review for matching make, model and year.
Scores as of 19/04/2023
The review score out of five was given to the most recent version of the vehicle on Parkers.
