MOT Risk Index.co.uk

MINI Hatch — MOT statistics 2024

All MINI Hatch variants tested in Great Britain in 2024 — 1,011,919 MOT tests, every generation and engine together.

MOT risk index
85.5
100 = normal for its age

This car fails its MOT about 14% less often than expected for its age.

Rank 8 of 25 families published so far · margin of error ±1 points

What this means for buyers

Checklist when viewing a used Hatch:
  1. Check wipers, washers and windscreen chips in the driver's view
  2. Try every light and switch — lamps are a top failure
  3. Check tyre tread depth across the full width
  4. Listen for knocks over bumps — worn suspension joints are common

Top specific failures

Exact defect wording from test records, per 100 tests.

What failedper 100
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view6.78
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources5.28
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning4.13
A tyre seriously damaged3.92
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements3.86
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn3.17
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements3.02
Emissions levels exceed default limits2.78
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective2.77
Wiper blade defective2.72

Failures by component area

Lamps & electrical 26.9 Visibility 14.6 Brakes 12.5 Emissions & leaks 10.7 Suspension 10.3 Tyres 9.5

Early warnings (advisories)

Advisories are wear the tester noted but didn't fail — what will need money soon.

Tyres 72.9 Brakes 61.2 Suspension 44.5 Emissions & leaks 17 Non-component advisories 9.5 Body & structure 6.9

How it ages

3579111315171947%car age, years

Takeaway: a 10-year-old Hatch has roughly a 18% chance of failing its MOT; from about age 18 it does worse than the average car.

Data table
AgeMINI HatchAll cars
39.2%10.9%
49.8%11.6%
510.9%13.5%
611.8%15.6%
713.5%18.2%
814.3%21.3%
915.9%24.4%
1018.4%27.7%
1123.6%30.6%
1225.3%33.4%
1330.5%36.0%
1431.7%38.6%
1536.7%39.9%
1639.0%41.5%
1741.2%41.5%
1842.7%42.4%
1943.1%42.2%
2040.9%37.5%

Petrol, diesel, hybrid — which ages best?

FuelTests% failing
Petrol845,72023.3%
Diesel153,37524.9%
Hybrid12,78811.8%

Where they fail most

Every dot is a postcode area — size = how many were tested there, colour = share failing. Raw rates: coastal and rural areas run older fleets and salted roads.

Torquay (TQ): 32% failing, 4,716 testsPlymouth (PL): 31.3% failing, 9,649 testsSalisbury (SP): 31.2% failing, 5,228 testsPortsmouth (PO): 31.1% failing, 14,113 testsExeter (EX): 31% failing, 10,352 testsDorchester (DT): 30.6% failing, 4,468 testsTruro (TR): 30.2% failing, 5,567 testsBristol (BS): 29.7% failing, 16,951 testsBournemouth (BH): 29.4% failing, 11,757 testsBath (BA): 29.4% failing, 8,627 testsTaunton (TA): 29.3% failing, 6,431 testsKirkcaldy (KY): 29.2% failing, 5,243 testsBrighton (BN): 28.8% failing, 15,697 testsCanterbury (CT): 28.1% failing, 7,809 testsGalashiels (TD): 28% failing, 1,624 testsCardiff (CF): 27% failing, 14,249 testsGloucester (GL): 27% failing, 13,416 testsDundee (DD): 26.8% failing, 3,955 testsTonbridge (TN): 26.6% failing, 17,926 testsLincoln (LN): 26.2% failing, 6,151 testsLondon E (E): 26.2% failing, 4,022 testsNorwich (NR): 26.1% failing, 12,379 testsSouthampton (SO): 26% failing, 11,554 testsIpswich (IP): 25.8% failing, 12,270 testsCambridge (CB): 25.7% failing, 7,127 testsLondon SW (SW): 25.5% failing, 6,768 testsRedhill (RH): 25.4% failing, 13,247 testsColchester (CO): 25.3% failing, 7,261 testsNorthampton (NN): 25.3% failing, 12,693 testsLondon W (W): 25.3% failing, 3,688 testsLlandudno (LL): 25.2% failing, 7,830 testsMedway (ME): 25.1% failing, 11,820 testsChester (CH): 25% failing, 10,274 testsSwansea (SA): 25% failing, 10,336 testsPeterborough (PE): 24.9% failing, 18,197 testsSunderland (SR): 24.9% failing, 2,352 testsHull (HU): 24.9% failing, 7,304 testsDarlington (DL): 24.8% failing, 4,662 testsLondon N (N): 24.8% failing, 4,766 testsNottingham (NG): 24.7% failing, 16,748 testsGuildford (GU): 24.6% failing, 17,738 testsStevenage (SG): 24.6% failing, 8,185 testsLancaster (LA): 24.4% failing, 4,990 testsLeeds (LS): 24.2% failing, 9,762 testsPaisley (PA): 24.1% failing, 3,206 testsLuton (LU): 24% failing, 4,277 testsDudley (DY): 23.5% failing, 5,926 testsManchester (M): 23.4% failing, 13,315 testsAberdeen (AB): 23.4% failing, 11,421 testsNewport (NP): 23.3% failing, 7,630 testsReading (RG): 23.3% failing, 17,875 testsWalsall (WS): 23.3% failing, 6,609 testsSwindon (SN): 23.2% failing, 10,690 testsBlackpool (FY): 23.1% failing, 5,197 testsWolverhampton (WV): 23% failing, 5,964 testsLondon SE (SE): 22.9% failing, 8,052 testsChelmsford (CM): 22.9% failing, 14,522 testsYork (YO): 22.8% failing, 11,218 testsStockport (SK): 22.8% failing, 11,250 testsLiverpool (L): 22.7% failing, 6,659 testsBradford (BD): 22.6% failing, 6,147 testsSt Albans (AL): 22.5% failing, 4,269 testsPerth (PH): 22.5% failing, 2,630 testsDoncaster (DN): 22.5% failing, 11,589 testsTwickenham (TW): 22.5% failing, 9,037 testsHalifax (HX): 22.4% failing, 2,030 testsDartford (DA): 22.3% failing, 5,838 testsInverness (IV): 22.2% failing, 3,416 testsPreston (PR): 22.1% failing, 9,991 testsEdinburgh (EH): 22% failing, 15,761 testsOldham (OL): 21.9% failing, 4,875 testsTelford (TF): 21.9% failing, 4,047 testsCroydon (CR): 21.8% failing, 5,700 testsHuddersfield (HD): 21.7% failing, 3,776 testsStoke-on-Trent (ST): 21.7% failing, 11,852 testsUxbridge (UB): 21.6% failing, 4,522 testsKingston upon Thames (KT): 21.6% failing, 12,125 testsOxford (OX): 21.5% failing, 16,721 testsCrewe (CW): 21.5% failing, 6,931 testsHemel Hempstead (HP): 21.5% failing, 13,782 testsSouthend-on-Sea (SS): 21.4% failing, 10,372 testsBolton (BL): 21.3% failing, 6,732 testsIlford (IG): 21.3% failing, 3,843 testsCarlisle (CA): 21.2% failing, 5,521 testsMilton Keynes (MK): 21.1% failing, 9,825 testsShrewsbury (SY): 21.1% failing, 6,481 testsHereford (HR): 21.1% failing, 3,543 testsBirmingham (B): 21% failing, 25,790 testsCoventry (CV): 21% failing, 15,295 testsLeicester (LE): 20.9% failing, 17,194 testsBromley (BR): 20.7% failing, 4,419 testsWigan (WN): 20.6% failing, 4,202 testsWarrington (WA): 20.6% failing, 10,263 testsSlough (SL): 20.6% failing, 7,981 testsWatford (WD): 20.5% failing, 4,751 testsSheffield (S): 20.4% failing, 19,786 testsHarrogate (HG): 20.3% failing, 3,809 testsSutton (SM): 20.2% failing, 1,925 testsDerby (DE): 20.1% failing, 12,580 testsFalkirk (FK): 19.9% failing, 4,398 testsRomford (RM): 19.9% failing, 5,591 testsCleveland (TS): 19.8% failing, 9,179 testsBlackburn (BB): 19.7% failing, 8,576 testsLondon NW (NW): 19.3% failing, 9,527 testsWakefield (WF): 19% failing, 8,082 testsGlasgow (G): 18.7% failing, 17,069 testsNewcastle (NE): 18.4% failing, 17,873 testsDumfries (DG): 18.2% failing, 1,822 testsWorcester (WR): 18.2% failing, 8,994 testsDurham (DH): 17.9% failing, 5,903 testsMotherwell (ML): 17.8% failing, 5,754 testsEnfield (EN): 17.7% failing, 6,600 testsKilmarnock (KA): 17.2% failing, 8,013 testsHarrow (HA): 9.2% failing, 10,170 tests % failing 18% 31%
Toughest areas% failing
Torquay (TQ)32%
Plymouth (PL)31.32%
Salisbury (SP)31.18%
Portsmouth (PO)31.09%
Exeter (EX)30.98%
Easiest areas% failing
Harrow (HA)9.17%
Kilmarnock (KA)17.22%
Enfield (EN)17.68%
Motherwell (ML)17.81%
Durham (DH)17.86%

Does the test month matter?

Takeaway: the spread between best and worst month is 3.7 percentage points — noticeable seasonality.

25% in month 1 J23.13% in month 2 F22.91% in month 3 M24.76% in month 4 A22.77% in month 5 M21.31% in month 6 J24.36% in month 7 J23.41% in month 8 A22.63% in month 9 S24.42% in month 10 O23.81% in month 11 N22.34% in month 12 D 29% 20%

bars: MINI Hatch · dashed: all class-4 cars

Month-by-month table
MonthMINI HatchAll cars
Jan25%27.37%
Feb23.13%26.14%
Mar22.91%24.75%
Apr24.76%26.01%
May22.77%25.01%
Jun21.31%25.01%
Jul24.36%26.04%
Aug23.41%25.79%
Sep22.63%25.19%
Oct24.42%27.13%
Nov23.81%27.2%
Dec22.34%26.29%

Is the mileage normal?

A typical 8-year-old Hatch has ~49,880 miles on the clock. Much more — ask why; much less — check for gaps in the MOT history.

369121518car age, years 132k mi 0

line: median · band: middle half of the fleet (p25–p75)

Mileage by age (p25 / median / p75)
Agep25Medianp75Tests
312,95819,12926,49752,682
416,04923,15931,62953,915
520,50228,79038,81081,035
625,23035,10646,35071,255
730,76642,54356,39569,791
836,36949,88065,10471,904
942,47057,64674,36971,356
1046,57363,10081,04950,394
1153,45670,90089,33062,040
1257,15274,44893,90151,838
1361,90180,689100,93645,296
1464,75883,557102,96850,937
1567,92686,442106,32548,121
1674,13492,893112,60144,447
1773,99792,242111,02943,795
1875,18195,123114,42933,816
1978,64299,153119,09835,317
20+83,369104,558125,85870,555

Quick answers

What most commonly fails on a MINI Hatch MOT?
The most frequent specific failures in 2024 were: windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view; a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources; a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
Is the MINI Hatch reliable for its age?
Across 1,011,919 initial tests in 2024, it fails its MOT about 14% less often than expected for its age (MOT Risk Index 85.5, where 100 = normal for its age).
Are diesel Hatchs worse than petrol at the MOT?
24.9% of diesel tests found a failing defect vs 23.3% of petrol.
What mileage is normal for a 8-year-old Hatch?
The median is about 49,880 miles; the middle half of the fleet sits between 36,369 and 65,104.
How often are dangerous defects found on the MINI Hatch?
About 10 dangerous defects were recorded per 100 initial tests in 2024 — with a dangerous defect the car legally cannot be driven away.

Compare with

Vauxhall Astra · 109.1Volkswagen Polo · 114.8Vauxhall Corsa · 123.5Nissan Qashqai · 122.9

Data details & how to cite

Scope: class-4 vehicles (cars), initial tests only, outcomes pass / fail / fixed-on-the-spot at the station (PRS counts towards the failure rate — the defect was present at arrival). Index = observed initial failures ÷ failures expected for this fleet's exact age profile, ×100; margin of error is a 95% confidence interval. Covers ALL generations together — a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old are very different cars; a generation split is on the roadmap. Dataset release dvsa-2024-v1, frozen baseline. Full method: methodology.

Cite: MOT Risk Index (2026). MINI Hatch MOT statistics 2024 (dvsa-2024-v1). https://motriskindex.co.uk/cars/mini-hatch/ · Published 2026-07-30.