MINI Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems by model

Free MINI 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.

  • 78% MOT pass rate (UK 77%)
  • 6,809 MINIs checked

MINI 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 MINI 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 MINI car check:

  • 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 MINI 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.

MINI car check by model

MOT pass rate of each MINI model, all its versions included; the line marks the UK average (77%). Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

  • MINI Cooper 1,982 vehicles checked 84% Top failure area: lights and indicators MINI Cooper car check →
  • MINI Countryman 576 vehicles checked 87% Top failure area: tyres
  • MINI ONE 379 vehicles checked 82% Top failure area: lights and indicators
  • MINI John Cooper 193 vehicles checked
  • MINI Clubman 133 vehicles checked
  • MINI Paceman 72 vehicles checked
  • MINI First 20 vehicles checked

Free MINI MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 6,809 MINI vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 78%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 6,000typical miles a year
  • 4.6%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 87,865MOT tests analysed
  • 2008–2016built (middle half)
  • 78%petrol; 20% diesel; 1% hybrid electric (clean)

MINI common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on MINI vehicles, as a share of all their MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once).

Top 19 MINI MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Position lamp not working2.7%
  2. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively2.4%
  3. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
  4. Headlamp aim too low1.7%
  5. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.1%
  6. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.1%
  7. Headlamp aim too high1.1%
  8. Registration plate lamp not working1.0%
  9. Stop lamp not working1.0%
  10. Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.9%
Show all 19
  1. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.8%
  2. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.7%
  3. Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits0.7%
  4. Brake pipe excessively corroded0.7%
  5. Parking brake efficiency below requirements0.6%
  6. Track rod end ball joint has excessive play0.6%
  7. Service brake excessively binding0.5%
  8. Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.5%
  9. Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases0.5%

Top 20 MINI MOT advisories

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

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge6.6%
  2. Oil leak, but not excessive5.4%
  3. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.3%
  4. Brake pad wearing thin5.2%
  5. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.7%
  6. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing2.9%
  7. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material2.0%
  8. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources2.0%
  9. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.9%
  10. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.8%
Show all 20
  1. Brake pipe slightly corroded1.5%
  2. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.4%
  3. Service brake binding but not excessively1.4%
  4. Nail in tyre1.1%
  5. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.1%
  6. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases1.1%
  7. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'1.0%
  8. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.0%
  9. Coil spring corroded1.0%
  10. Road wheel slightly distorted0.9%

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 6,809 MINI vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp (87,865 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check. 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.

Before buying a used MINI

The MOT record shows condition on the day of the test. Run these checks on the MINI you're looking at too:

MINI MOT questions

Is a MINI car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any MINI 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 MINI?

Position lamp not working: found at 2.7% of the MINI MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 45% of failed tests.

What is the MINI MOT pass rate?

78% of 87,865 MOT tests on 6,809 MINI 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 MINI?

Going by its MOT records, the MINI's most common failures are position lamp not working (2.7% of tests); windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (2.4% of tests); tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.0% 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 MINI?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 6.6% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a MINI typically driven?

About 6,000 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 4.6% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

Which MINI model passes its MOT most often?

Among MINI models with at least 300 vehicles checked, the MINI Countryman has the highest pass rate (87%) and the MINI ONE the lowest (82%).

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