MOT pass rates / MINI
MINI MOT pass rates and common failures
MINI cars passed 76.3% of their MOTs first time in 2024, across 681,046 class-4 initial tests and 19 model groups. That is above the 71.2% UK average, and ranks MINI 20th of 59 makes in the dataset.
Pass rates track age more strongly than badge: an older MINI is compared here against older cars of every other make, so read the age table below before drawing conclusions about the brand.
Checking a MINI?
Make-level pass rates cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
What MINI cars fail on
The items most often behind a first-test failure across MINI model groups, as a share of MINI tests. DVSA publishes each model group's six most common categories, so this ranks the biggest published causes rather than every possible one.
- Condition — 4.4% of MINI tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Headlamp Aim — 3.5% of MINI tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Exhaust Emissions — 3.3% of MINI tests. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
- Position Lamps — 3.2% of MINI tests. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Brake Performance — 1.8% of MINI tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
- Wipers — 1.5% of MINI tests. Worn wiper blades. Minutes to fix, and a fair hint that servicing was skipped.
- Suspension Arms — 1.1% of MINI tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 1% of MINI tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
MINI MOT pass rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 135,204 | 88.7% |
| 6–9 years | 218,306 | 84.5% |
| 10–14 years | 180,791 | 72.9% |
| 15–30 years | 146,492 | 56.7% |
MINI models by MOT pass rate
| Model | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Mini | 224,222 | 61.6% |
| Cooper | 179,702 | 84.3% |
| Countryman | 75,702 | 86.1% |
| Cooper S | 74,219 | 85.4% |
| ONE | 43,076 | 79.7% |
| Clubman | 22,603 | 81.5% |
| John Cooper Works | 17,648 | 85.6% |
| Mini (r60) | 11,509 | 72.4% |
| Paceman | 7,477 | 82% |
| Cooper D | 5,780 | 67.8% |
| Cooper S Electric Level 3 | 3,508 | 86.9% |
| Cooper S Electric Level 2 | 3,308 | 87.9% |
| Mini (r57) | 2,474 | 69.9% |
| Roadster | 2,375 | 80.8% |
| Cooper SD | 2,031 | 72.7% |
| Mini (r58) | 1,461 | 69.7% |
| First | 1,403 | 70.2% |
| Cooper Auto | 1,396 | 75.2% |
| Cooper S Electric Level 1 | 1,152 | 87.6% |
How many MINI vehicles are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 909,155 licensed and 63,026 SORN MINI vehicles across 20 published model groups.
Licensed and SORN counts for every MINI model
Before you buy
- Condition — 4.4% of tests in 2024. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Headlamp Aim — 3.5% of tests in 2024. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Exhaust Emissions — 3.3% of tests in 2024. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
- Position Lamps — 3.2% of tests in 2024. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Check the actual MINI — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Common questions
What is the MINI MOT pass rate?
76.3% of 681,046 class-4 initial MOT tests on MINI cars passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average across all published models.
Which MINI has the best MOT pass rate?
Of the MINI model groups with a substantial sample, the Countryman has the highest initial pass rate at 86.1% across 75,702 tests. Pass rates track vehicle age closely, so newer model groups tend to sit higher.
Does a good MINI pass rate mean the car I am looking at is fine?
No. A model-level rate describes a population, not one vehicle. Enter the registration for that car's own MOT, tax and mileage record, and check for outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before you buy.
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that MINI's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.