Austin Mini
From 388 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame and spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. The top issue, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 12 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 12 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 11 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 10 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 8 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 7 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 7 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 6 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 5 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 5 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is so weakened that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected | 5 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 19.7% of Mini failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 23.7% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £139.
Austin Mini on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 160 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 17 newly registered, a net loss of 143. Now at 11.3% of its peak (234,783 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 8,382 | 18,045 | +5 | -0 | +68 |
| 2025 Q2 | 8,377 | 17,982 | +6 | -0 | +107 |
| 2025 Q1 | 7,666 | 18,586 | +2 | -0 | +45 |
| 2024 Q4 | 7,681 | 18,526 | +4 | -160 | -156 |
| 2024 Q3 | 8,263 | 18,100 | +7 | -0 | +35 |
| 2024 Q2 | 8,262 | 18,066 | +2 | -0 | +297 |
| 2024 Q1 | 7,562 | 18,469 | +11 | -239 | -228 |
| 2023 Q4 | 7,439 | 18,820 | +7 | -14 | -7 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | Petrol | 1,818 | 23% |
| Mini Mayfair | Petrol | 1,198 | 15% |
| Mini 1000 City E | Battery Electric | 1,073 | 14% |
| Mini 1000 | Petrol | 734 | 9% |
| Mini Cooper | Petrol | 608 | 8% |
| Mini Cooper S | Petrol | 580 | 7% |
| Mini Clubman | Petrol | 286 | 4% |
| Mini Thirty | Petrol | 263 | 3% |
| Mini Mayfair Auto | Petrol | 163 | 2% |
| Mini Racing Flame | Petrol | 135 | 2% |
| Mini 1275 Gt | Petrol | 131 | 2% |
| Mini 25 | Petrol | 122 | 2% |
| Mini Moke | Petrol | 115 | 1% |
| Mini 1000 City E Auto | Petrol | 107 | 1% |
| Mini Countryman | Petrol | 104 | 1% |
| Mini 850 Van | Petrol | 103 | 1% |
| Mini 1000 Hl E | Petrol | 102 | 1% |
| Mini Designer | Petrol | 91 | 1% |
| Mini Advantage | Petrol | 69 | <1% |
| Mini Sky Rose | Petrol | 66 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Typical mileage
Half of all Minis tested had between 26,815 and 70,493 miles on the clock.
At 47,297 median miles, the Mini has 0.034 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Austin models
Common questions
What is the Austin Mini MOT pass rate?
The Austin Mini has a 84% MOT pass rate based on 388 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Austin Mini?
The most common MOT failure on the Austin Mini is a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 12 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Austin Minis are on UK roads?
There are 8,382 Austin Minis currently licensed on UK roads, with 18,045 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Austin Mini at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Austin Mini is 47,297 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 26,815 and 70,493 miles.
Buying a used Mini?
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 84% pass rate and an average repair bill of £139 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.