Mini Cooper
From 322,304 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Coopers fare better: 2022 models pass at 96.7% vs 66.3% for 2004.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 7,537 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 tyre seriously damaged | 7,537 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 4,490 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 3,647 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 2,474 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 2,154 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 1,704 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,644 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 1,456 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,291 |
| windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view | 1,078 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 49.6% of failures are serious: 44.3% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 5.3% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £66.
Mini Cooper on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 21,657 newly registered in the past year with 16,291 leaving, a net gain of 5,366. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 499,409 | 35,650 | +5,301 | -4,187 | +1,114 |
| 2025 Q2 | 499,188 | 34,757 | +4,478 | -1,843 | +2,635 |
| 2025 Q1 | 496,023 | 35,287 | +5,321 | -3,486 | +1,835 |
| 2024 Q4 | 495,472 | 34,003 | +6,557 | -6,775 | -218 |
| 2024 Q3 | 497,882 | 31,811 | +4,354 | -4,022 | +332 |
| 2024 Q2 | 498,453 | 30,908 | +3,757 | -2,849 | +908 |
| 2024 Q1 | 497,642 | 30,811 | +9,332 | -3,820 | +5,512 |
| 2023 Q4 | 493,183 | 29,758 | +10,238 | -4,415 | +5,823 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper | Petrol | 115,851 | 26% |
| Cooper D | Diesel | 40,378 | 9% |
| Cooper S | Petrol | 38,490 | 9% |
| Cooper Classic | Petrol | 27,897 | 6% |
| Cooper Auto | Petrol | 27,536 | 6% |
| Mini Cooper | Petrol | 24,388 | 5% |
| Cooper Classic Auto | Petrol | 21,611 | 5% |
| Cooper S Sport Auto | Petrol | 18,120 | 4% |
| Cooper Exclusive Auto | Petrol | 18,113 | 4% |
| Cooper S Exclusive Auto | Petrol | 12,617 | 3% |
| Mini Cooper S | Petrol | 12,546 | 3% |
| Cooper Sport Auto | Petrol | 12,410 | 3% |
| Cooper Sport | Petrol | 12,257 | 3% |
| Cooper S Auto | Petrol | 12,077 | 3% |
| Cooper S Electric Level 2 | Battery Electric | 10,974 | 2% |
| Cooper Classic C Auto | Petrol | 9,084 | 2% |
| Cooper S Electric Level 3 | Battery Electric | 8,932 | 2% |
| Cooper Sd | Diesel | 8,352 | 2% |
| Cooper Exclusive | Petrol | 6,918 | 2% |
| Cooper S Classic Auto | Petrol | 6,550 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 96.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2021 | 91.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2020 | 90.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2019 | 89.9% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
18 earlier years
| 2018 | 88.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2017 | 87.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 87% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 85.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 83.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2013 | 79.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2012 | 79.7% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2011 | 77.1% | a lamp missing, 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 |
| 2010 | 75.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2009 | 69.4% | emissions levels exceed default limits, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2008 | 67.7% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2007 | 66.4% | emissions levels exceed default limits, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2006 | 67% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2005 | 66.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 66.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2003 | 68.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2002 | 60.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1999 | 85.5% | 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., significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
Typical mileage
Half of all Coopers tested had between 28,254 and 54,714 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 37,806 median miles, the Cooper has 0.034 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mini models
| Mini Mini | 71.5% |
| Mini Cooper S | 88.5% |
| Mini Countryman | 88.5% |
| Mini One | 83.1% |
| Mini John Cooper Works | 90.1% |
Common questions
What is the Mini Cooper MOT pass rate?
The Mini Cooper has a 87% MOT pass rate based on 322,304 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mini Cooper?
The most common MOT failure on the Mini Cooper is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 7,537 failures. Other common issues include wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen.
How many Mini Coopers are on UK roads?
There are 499,409 Mini Coopers currently licensed on UK roads, with 35,650 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mini Cooper at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mini Cooper is 37,806 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 28,254 and 54,714 miles.
Buying a used Cooper?
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.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.