In 2025, 370,114 Audi A3 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 74% passed first time, compared with 69% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the A3 better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 54 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 4 years old, 86% of A3s passed first time (all cars that age: 87%). By 20 years, that figure is 56% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 7 to 16 years.
Audi A3 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | A3 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 years | 210 | 86% | 87% | 35,940 |
| 5 years | 4,468 | 88% | 86% | 41,476 |
| 6 years | 20,525 | 86% | 84% | 49,755 |
| 7 years | 26,906 | 87% | 81% | 57,007 |
| 8 years | 33,684 | 85% | 78% | 66,790 |
| 9 years | 38,650 | 83% | 75% | 75,265 |
| 10 years | 41,438 | 80% | 72% | 85,256 |
| 11 years | 38,523 | 77% | 69% | 94,486 |
| 12 years | 26,933 | 73% | 66% | 105,252 |
| 13 years | 24,814 | 66% | 63% | 113,791 |
| 14 years | 20,435 | 65% | 61% | 121,344 |
| 15 years | 22,989 | 62% | 59% | 120,264 |
| 16 years | 20,050 | 62% | 58% | 125,592 |
| 17 years | 16,139 | 59% | 57% | 130,217 |
| 18 years | 12,119 | 59% | 57% | 135,703 |
| 19 years | 9,680 | 56% | 57% | 137,748 |
| 20 years | 6,052 | 56% | 58% | 137,547 |
What fails most on a Audi A3
The area that lets the A3 down most, relative to other cars, is seat belts and airbags: 1.1% of tests failed on it, 3.4 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on visibility and lights and electrics.
Share of A3 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 4.3% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 4.2% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 3.9% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.8% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.3% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.7% |
What to check when buying a used A3
Based on where the A3 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- 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
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 A3
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a A3Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Audi A3?
In 2025, 74% of Audi A3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 370,114 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 69%.
What do Audi A3 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (4.3% of tests); a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (4.2% of tests); a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (3.9% of tests).
Other Audi models
Audi A4 (72%), Audi A1 (75%), 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.