Audi A1
From 389,982 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer A1s fare better: 2022 models pass at 95.5% vs 74.8% for 2010.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and a tyre seriously damaged. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 12,293 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 12,293 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 8,275 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 8,148 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 6,336 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 5,333 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 4,023 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 3,932 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 3,255 |
| brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 3,007 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 2,075 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 57.9% of A1 failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 11.2% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £125.
The warranty question
A new A1 passes its MOT 91.1% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 82%, a 9.1 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 77.9%. With an average repair bill of £125 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a A1 that's past its third birthday.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 84.1% while Diesel versions pass at 77.2%, a 7 percentage point gap.
Audi A1 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 14,037 newly registered in the past year with 3,010 leaving, a net gain of 11,027. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 258,258 | 3,165 | +4,245 | -1,173 | +3,072 |
| 2025 Q2 | 255,353 | 2,998 | +3,440 | -1,242 | +2,198 |
| 2025 Q1 | 253,279 | 2,874 | +3,507 | -595 | +2,912 |
| 2024 Q4 | 250,794 | 2,447 | +2,845 | -0 | +3,205 |
| 2024 Q3 | 247,933 | 2,103 | +4,808 | -686 | +4,122 |
| 2024 Q2 | 243,935 | 1,979 | +3,663 | -954 | +2,709 |
| 2024 Q1 | 241,266 | 1,939 | +2,188 | -981 | +1,207 |
| 2023 Q4 | 240,272 | 1,726 | +2,878 | -0 | +3,035 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Sport Tfsi | Petrol | 47,272 | 22% |
| A1 Sport Tdi | Diesel | 21,996 | 10% |
| A1 S Line Tfsi | Petrol | 18,750 | 9% |
| A1 Sport 30 Tfsi | Petrol | 12,627 | 6% |
| A1 S Line 30 Tfsi | Petrol | 12,284 | 6% |
| A1 S Line Tdi | Diesel | 11,437 | 5% |
| A1 Sport Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 11,358 | 5% |
| A1 Sport 25 Tfsi | Petrol | 11,073 | 5% |
| A1 S Line 30 Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 9,899 | 5% |
| A1 S Line Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 7,645 | 4% |
| A1 Technik 25 Tfsi | Petrol | 6,494 | 3% |
| A1 S Line 35 Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 6,388 | 3% |
| A1 Sport Nav Tfsi | Petrol | 6,060 | 3% |
| A1 Sport 30 Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 5,663 | 3% |
| A1 S Line 25 Tfsi | Petrol | 5,564 | 3% |
| A1 Se Tdi | Petrol | 5,066 | 2% |
| A1 Se Tfsi | Petrol | 4,837 | 2% |
| A1 Sport 25 Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 4,030 | 2% |
| A1 S Line 25 Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 3,929 | 2% |
| A1 S Line Nav Tfsi | Petrol | 3,073 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 95.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2021 | 91.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2020 | 91.1% | a tyre seriously damaged, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2019 | 90% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a tyre seriously damaged |
9 earlier years
| 2018 | 85.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2017 | 83.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 82% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 81.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 79.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 77.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2012 | 77.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 75.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2010 | 74.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all A1s tested had between 18,537 and 36,878 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 26,779 median miles, the A1 has 0.066 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi A1 MOT pass rate?
The Audi A1 has a 82.4% MOT pass rate based on 389,982 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi A1?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi A1 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 12,293 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
How many Audi A1s are on UK roads?
There are 258,258 Audi A1s currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,165 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi A1 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi A1 is 26,779 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 18,537 and 36,878 miles.
Buying a used A1?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 82.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £125 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.