MINI First: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MINI First passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 1.4 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,605 individual MINI First tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate78.1%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+1.4 points
Tests analysed1,605
Average mileage at test71,734 miles
Average year of manufacture2012
Reliability rank1,518 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 78.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 22 in every 100 MINI Firsts presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average MINI First tested had covered 71,734 miles and was built around 2012.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a MINI First bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific MINI First rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged MINI Firsts actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MINI First

  1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2.4% of tests (8.31x the national rate for this defect)
  2. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.5% of tests (4.34x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 1.3% of tests (3.17x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.6% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.2% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 2% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.3% of tests (1.35x the national rate for this defect)
  9. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.9% of tests
  10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.5% of tests

From 2,390 DVSA-tracked MINI First tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.92% of these flagged MINI First defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

MINI First pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each MINI First year:

Other MINI models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate