Mini Roadster
From 4,839 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Roadsters fare better: 2015 models pass at 85.3% vs 82.7% for 2013.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 88 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 | 88 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 59 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 46 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 43 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 43 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 34 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 33 |
| brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 31 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 30 |
| stop lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning | 29 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 40.8% of failures are serious: 27.3% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 13.5% 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 £82.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 84.8% while Diesel versions pass at 79.3%, a 6 percentage point gap.
Mini Roadster on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 20 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 20.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 5,118 | 159 | +0 | -0 | +0 |
| 2025 Q2 | 5,133 | 144 | +0 | -0 | +7 |
| 2025 Q1 | 5,055 | 215 | +0 | -0 | +2 |
| 2024 Q4 | 5,074 | 194 | +0 | -20 | -20 |
| 2024 Q3 | 5,159 | 129 | +0 | -21 | -21 |
| 2024 Q2 | 5,193 | 116 | +0 | -0 | +33 |
| 2024 Q1 | 5,141 | 135 | +1 | -62 | -61 |
| 2023 Q4 | 5,197 | 140 | +0 | -0 | +2 |
6 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Roadster Cooper | Petrol | 2,402 | 47% |
| Mini Roadster Cooper S | Petrol | 1,455 | 28% |
| Mini Roadster Cooper Sd | Diesel | 626 | 12% |
| Mini Roadster Cooper S Auto | Petrol | 271 | 5% |
| Mini Roadster Cooper Auto | Petrol | 255 | 5% |
| Mini Roadster Cooper Sd Auto | Diesel | 109 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 85.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 83.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2013 | 82.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
Typical mileage
Half of all Roadsters tested had between 34,845 and 54,382 miles on the clock.
At 47,994 median miles, the Roadster has 0.033 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mini models
| Mini Mini | 71.5% |
| Mini Cooper | 87% |
| Mini Cooper S | 88.5% |
| Mini Countryman | 88.5% |
| Mini One | 83.1% |
Common questions
What is the Mini Roadster MOT pass rate?
The Mini Roadster has a 84% MOT pass rate based on 4,839 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mini Roadster?
The most common MOT failure on the Mini Roadster is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 88 failures. Other common issues include a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage.
How many Mini Roadsters are on UK roads?
There are 5,118 Mini Roadsters currently licensed on UK roads, with 159 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mini Roadster at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mini Roadster is 47,994 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 34,845 and 54,382 miles.
Buying a used Roadster?
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 £82 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.