MG Midget
From 1,174 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 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 lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, caused 33 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 33 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 31 |
| 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 | 27 |
| 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. | 23 |
| a wheel bearing with excessive play | 23 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 22 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 22 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 20 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 19 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 16 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 18.2% of Midget failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 19.1% 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 £124.
MG Midget on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 96 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 93.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 9,022 | 5,756 | +1 | -0 | +2 |
| 2025 Q2 | 9,070 | 5,706 | +1 | -0 | +42 |
| 2025 Q1 | 9,091 | 5,643 | +0 | -0 | +115 |
| 2024 Q4 | 9,176 | 5,443 | +1 | -96 | -95 |
| 2024 Q3 | 9,305 | 5,409 | +2 | -19 | -17 |
| 2024 Q2 | 9,333 | 5,398 | +0 | -80 | -80 |
| 2024 Q1 | 9,338 | 5,473 | +1 | -0 | +183 |
| 2023 Q4 | 9,150 | 5,478 | +1 | -11 | -10 |
2 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midget | Petrol | 5,696 | 63% |
| Midget 1500 | Petrol | 3,326 | 37% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 88% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1973 | 86.5% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 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. |
| 1972 | 81.5% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a wheel bearing with excessive play |
Typical mileage
Half of all Midgets tested had between 16,408 and 76,064 miles on the clock.
At 45,176 median miles, the Midget has 0.036 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other MG models
| MG Zs | 81.9% |
| MG 3 | 79.4% |
| MG Zs Exclusive Ev | 89.5% |
| MG Tf | 75% |
| MG Mgf | 72.8% |
Common questions
What is the MG Midget MOT pass rate?
The MG Midget has a 83.8% MOT pass rate based on 1,174 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a MG Midget?
The most common MOT failure on the MG Midget is a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, which caused 33 failures. Other common issues include steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many MG Midgets are on UK roads?
There are 9,022 MG Midgets currently licensed on UK roads, with 5,756 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a MG Midget at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a MG Midget is 45,176 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 16,408 and 76,064 miles.
Buying a used Midget?
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 83.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £124 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.