In 2025, 219,074 Audi A1 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 75% passed first time, compared with 74% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the A1 about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 119 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 91% of A1s passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 15 years, that figure is 65% (all cars: 59%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 13 to 15 years.
Audi A1 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | A1 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 8,874 | 91% | 88% | 22,417 |
| 4 years | 8,191 | 90% | 87% | 30,135 |
| 5 years | 9,699 | 87% | 86% | 35,497 |
| 6 years | 19,960 | 84% | 84% | 42,156 |
| 7 years | 19,887 | 80% | 81% | 46,971 |
| 8 years | 22,854 | 77% | 78% | 54,679 |
| 9 years | 25,388 | 74% | 75% | 62,757 |
| 10 years | 23,460 | 74% | 72% | 70,914 |
| 11 years | 22,827 | 71% | 69% | 76,699 |
| 12 years | 22,129 | 67% | 66% | 84,436 |
| 13 years | 18,163 | 67% | 63% | 92,038 |
| 14 years | 15,689 | 64% | 61% | 98,939 |
| 15 years | 1,341 | 65% | 59% | 99,704 |
What fails most on a Audi A1
No single area stands out: the A1 fails on each part of the test at roughly the rate you would expect. It does comparatively well on lights and electrics and body and structure.
Share of A1 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 5.7% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 3.9% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.6% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.5% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.2% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | Brakes | 2.3% |
What to check when buying a used A1
Based on where the A1 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific A1
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a A1Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Audi A1?
In 2025, 75% of Audi A1 cars passed their MOT first time, across 219,074 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 74%.
What do Audi A1 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (5.7% of tests); a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (3.9% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (3.6% of tests).
Other Audi models
Audi A3 (74%), Audi A4 (72%), Audi A5 (76%), Audi A6 (79%), Audi TT (77%), Audi Q3 (79%). All Audi models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.