In 2025, 49,528 MINI One cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 79% passed first time, compared with 72% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the One better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 26 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, 90% of Ones passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 18 years, that figure is 52% (all cars: 57%). It starts out ahead of the average car but falls behind from around 16 years, which is worth knowing if you are buying an older one.
MINI One All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | One passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 1,208 | 90% | 88% | 20,906 |
| 4 years | 1,318 | 88% | 87% | 26,853 |
| 5 years | 1,136 | 86% | 86% | 30,634 |
| 6 years | 1,552 | 87% | 84% | 35,988 |
| 7 years | 1,568 | 86% | 81% | 40,519 |
| 8 years | 5,373 | 84% | 78% | 49,953 |
| 9 years | 8,284 | 84% | 75% | 56,483 |
| 10 years | 10,349 | 82% | 72% | 62,782 |
| 11 years | 6,124 | 79% | 69% | 69,788 |
| 12 years | 6,409 | 71% | 66% | 71,617 |
| 13 years | 3,570 | 70% | 63% | 77,396 |
| 14 years | 719 | 65% | 61% | 83,756 |
| 15 years | 468 | 63% | 59% | 85,083 |
| 16 years | 316 | 52% | 58% | 84,601 |
| 17 years | 274 | 50% | 57% | 89,585 |
| 18 years | 233 | 52% | 57% | 86,227 |
What fails most on a MINI One
The area that lets the One down most, relative to other cars, is road wheels: 0.4% of tests failed on it, 3.2 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on body and structure and suspension.
Share of One tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 3.4% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 3.2% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.1% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 3.0% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 2.3% |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | Visibility | 1.9% |
What to check when buying a used One
Based on where the One fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Road wheels: Look for damaged rims and missing wheel nuts. More
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
- 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
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 One
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a OneFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a MINI One?
In 2025, 79% of MINI One cars passed their MOT first time, across 49,528 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 72%.
What do MINI One cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen (3.4% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (3.2% of tests); a tyre seriously damaged (3.1% of tests).
Other MINI models
MINI Cooper (85%), MINI MINI (62%), MINI Countryman (85%), MINI Cooper S (86%), 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.