Audi R8
From 11,652 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer R8s fare better: 2021 models pass at 95% vs 91.1% for 2007.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and number plate does not conform to the specified requirements. The top issue, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, caused 112 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 shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 112 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 91 |
| number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 73 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 52 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 49 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 26 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 19 |
| windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 18 |
| number plate showing an incorrect registration | 18 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 16 |
Audi R8 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 53 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 49 newly registered, a net loss of 4.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 3,439 | 744 | +0 | -50 | -50 |
| 2025 Q2 | 3,533 | 700 | +0 | -0 | +15 |
| 2025 Q1 | 3,211 | 1,007 | +1 | -0 | +47 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,102 | 1,069 | +48 | -3 | +45 |
| 2024 Q3 | 3,457 | 669 | +20 | -0 | +24 |
| 2024 Q2 | 3,516 | 586 | +25 | -0 | +153 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,241 | 708 | +21 | -166 | -145 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,157 | 937 | +24 | -27 | -3 |
14 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| R8 Plus Quattro V10 S-A | Petrol | 650 | 21% |
| R8 4.2 Quattro | Petrol | 608 | 19% |
| R8 Spyder Quattro V10 S-A | Petrol | 454 | 15% |
| R8 4.2 Quattro S-A | Petrol | 259 | 8% |
| R8 Quattro V10 | Petrol | 153 | 5% |
| R8 Prfrm Carbn Blk V10 Quat Sa | Petrol | 148 | 5% |
| R8 Performance V10 Quat Ed S-A | Petrol | 136 | 4% |
| R8 Spyder Quattro V10 | Petrol | 133 | 4% |
| R8 Quattro V10 S-A | Petrol | 130 | 4% |
| R8 Performance V10 Quattro S-A | Petrol | 121 | 4% |
| R8 Quattro V8 S-A | Petrol | 106 | 3% |
| R8 V10 Quattro S-A | Petrol | 99 | 3% |
| R8 + Quattro V10 S-A | Petrol | 71 | 2% |
| R8 Spyder Quattro V8 S-A | Petrol | 58 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 95% | number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, number plate showing an incorrect registration |
| 2020 | 98.1% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 85.8% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
| 2018 | 96.4% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a tyre seriously damaged |
11 earlier years
| 2017 | 95% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2016 | 97.4% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 95.6% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap |
| 2014 | 97.5% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2013 | 97.7% | number plate showing an incorrect registration, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 88.9% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2011 | 94.2% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
| 2010 | 92.2% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 90.8% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2008 | 89.7% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2007 | 91.1% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
Typical mileage
Half of all R8s tested had between 12,729 and 41,668 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 16,591 median miles, the R8 has 0.034 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi R8 MOT pass rate?
The Audi R8 has a 94.3% MOT pass rate based on 11,652 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi R8?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi R8 is a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, which caused 112 failures. Other common issues include an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Audi R8s are on UK roads?
There are 3,439 Audi R8s currently licensed on UK roads, with 744 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi R8 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi R8 is 16,591 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 12,729 and 41,668 miles.
Buying a used R8?
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.
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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.