Audi A1 Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Audi A1 vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 82% MOT pass rate
  • 2,904 A1s checked
  • 20.2% of Audis had outstanding finance

Audi A1 reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Audi A1 history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Audi A1 car check:

Of the 307 Audi vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 20.2% had outstanding finance recorded, 20.5% an insurance write-off record and 50.2% a number plate change.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a A1 by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Audi A1 MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 2,612 Audi A1 vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 82%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 7,400typical miles a year
  • 2.5%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 22,602MOT tests analysed
  • 2012–2017built (middle half)
  • 69%petrol; 30% diesel

Audi A1 common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Audi A1, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the A1's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 15 Audi A1 MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
  2. Coil spring fractured or broken1.6%
  3. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
  4. Headlamp aim too low1.0%
  5. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.0%
  6. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.8%
  7. Headlamp aim too high0.8%
  8. Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn0.8%
  9. Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.8%
  10. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.8%
Show all 15
  1. Position lamp not working0.7%
  2. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.6%
  3. Stop lamp not working0.6%
  4. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively0.5%
  5. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.5%

Top 20 Audi A1 MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge10.5%
  2. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.9%
  3. Brake pad wearing thin6.5%
  4. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing3.7%
  5. Tyre worn close to the legal limit2.3%
  6. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement2.3%
  7. Nail in tyre1.7%
  8. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.5%
  9. Brake disc worn, but not excessively1.4%
  10. Oil leak, but not excessive1.3%
Show all 20
  1. Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.2%
  2. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.2%
  3. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.1%
  4. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated1.0%
  5. Coil spring corroded0.9%
  6. Items removed from driver's view prior to test0.9%
  7. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil0.9%
  8. Service brake binding but not excessively0.9%
  9. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush0.6%
  10. Play in steering rack inner joint0.5%
  • Tyres: 34% of failed tests
  • Lights and indicators: 30% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 27% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 18% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 12% of failed tests
  • Tyres advisory: 28% of tests
  • Brakes advisory: 19% of tests
  • Suspension advisory: 10% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 2,612 Audi A1 vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since March 2023 (22,602 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Audi A1 versions

Every Audi A1 version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "A1" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
A1 (no version recorded) 2,492 82% Tyres
A1 Technik
  • A1 Technik 25 Tfsi: 38
  • A1 Technik 25 Tfsi S-A: 7
  • A1 Technik 30 Tfsi S-A: 5
  • and 1 more
 52 – –
A1 S
  • A1 S Line 25 Tfsi S-A: 10
  • A1 S Line Competition Tfsi S-A: 8
  • A1 S Line Black ED 25 Tfsi S-A: 6
  • A1 S Line Black ED 30 Tfsi S-A: 5
  • A1 S Line Black ED 35 Tfsi S-A: 5
  • and 5 more
 45 – –
A1 Sport
  • A1 Sport 25 Tfsi S-A: 10
  • and 2 more
 15 – –

Key history checks before buying a used Audi A1

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Audi on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the A1. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Audi A1

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Audi A1 car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Audi A1 you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a A1 by reg → See a sample report

Audi A1 MOT questions

How do I check a used Audi A1 for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 307 Audi A1 vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 20.2% had outstanding finance recorded and 20.5% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a Audi A1 car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Audi A1 are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Audi A1?

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.2% of the Audi A1 MOT tests we analysed. By area, tyres items appear in 34% of failed tests.

What is the Audi A1 MOT pass rate?

82% of 22,602 MOT tests on 2,612 Audi A1 vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Audi A1?

Going by its MOT records, the Audi A1's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.2% of tests); coil spring fractured or broken (1.6% of tests); brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick (1.6% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Audi A1?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 10.5% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Audi A1 typically driven?

About 7,400 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 2.5% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Audi car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Audi A1