In 2025, 229,800 MINI MINI cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 62% passed first time, compared with 60% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the MINI about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 97 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 11 years old, 76% of MINIs passed first time (all cars that age: 69%). By 20 years, that figure is 56% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 11 to 16 years.
MINI MINI All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | MINI passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 years | 524 | 76% | 69% | 73,958 |
| 12 years | 18,608 | 74% | 66% | 79,769 |
| 13 years | 21,524 | 71% | 63% | 81,160 |
| 14 years | 24,722 | 67% | 61% | 84,900 |
| 15 years | 28,535 | 66% | 59% | 87,359 |
| 16 years | 25,266 | 61% | 58% | 89,819 |
| 17 years | 22,212 | 59% | 57% | 95,327 |
| 18 years | 20,765 | 57% | 57% | 92,967 |
| 19 years | 17,452 | 56% | 57% | 95,485 |
| 20 years | 17,952 | 56% | 58% | 98,607 |
What fails most on a MINI MINI
The area that lets the MINI down most, relative to other cars, is emissions and leaks: 15.7% of tests failed on it, 4.0 times the rate for the average car.
Share of MINI tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 9.5% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 9.0% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 4.7% |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | Emissions and leaks | 4.0% |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | Emissions and leaks | 3.6% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 3.4% |
What to check when buying a used MINI
Based on where the MINI fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
- Lights and electrics: Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, number-plate and fog lights. Bulbs are cheap, but a seller who hasn’t noticed one out may have missed more. Repair guide
- Body and structure: Get underneath with a torch: sills, jacking points, subframe mounts and floor pans. Structural rust is the failure that can make a car uneconomic to fix. 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 MINI
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a MINIFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a MINI MINI?
In 2025, 62% of MINI MINI cars passed their MOT first time, across 229,800 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 60%.
What do MINI MINI cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (9.5% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (9.0% of tests); a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (4.7% of tests).
Other MINI models
MINI Cooper (85%), MINI Countryman (85%), MINI Cooper S (86%), MINI One (79%), MINI Clubman (79%), MINI John Cooper Works (87%). All MINI 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.