Car statistics by year
1989 Austin Mini
Austin Mini cars first registered in 1989: how they did at their 2025 MOT, what failed them, how far they have been driven and how many are still on the road. Compared with every car first registered in 1989, so like is set against like.
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 69.2% All 1989 cars 76.5%
- Typical mileage at the MOT 55,000 miles; all 1989 cars 88,400
- Left at the end of 2025 4,075 107.2% of the 3,800 at the end of 2014
- Tests finding a dangerous defect 5.7% All 1989 cars 4.4%
- Tests with an advisory 43.8% All 1989 cars 40.9%
- MOT tests in 2025 811 normal tests in Great Britain
How do 1989 Austin Minis do at their MOT?
In 2025, at about 36 years old, 69.2% of 1989 Austin Mini MOT tests were passed first time, against 76.5% for all cars first registered in 1989. 1989 Austin Minis did worse than average for their age, by 7.3 points. A year earlier the same cars passed 68.1% of the time (all 1989 cars 75.6%).
Most common MOT failures on the 1989 Austin Mini
Non catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content excessive was the most common single reason a 1989 Austin Mini failed, on 24.8% of about 200 failed tests. By area of the car, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment failed most often (56.8% of failed tests; all 1989 cars 51.3%). 5.7% of tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 4.4% for all cars first registered in 1989. A failed test can have several defects, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common reasons for failure
Share of failed tests with each defect. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Non catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 24.8% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.4% |
| Service brake imbalance: across an axle Brakes | 12.0% |
| Steering rack: gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Steering | 8.4% |
| Headlamp aim: too high Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.0% |
| Non catalyst emissions hydrocarbon content excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.6% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 7.2% |
| Rear fog lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.2% |
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 6.4% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Failure categories: Austin Mini vs all 1989 cars
The marker shows the share for all cars first registered the same year.
| Category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 56.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 35.2% |
| Brakes | 30.8% |
| Suspension | 29.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 19.2% |
| Visibility | 17.6% |
| Steering | 17.2% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 4.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common MOT advisories on the 1989 Austin Mini
An advisory is something the tester noticed that did not fail the test but may need work soon. 43.8% of 1989 Austin Mini tests had at least one (all 1989 cars 40.9%). These are the things to check on one you are thinking of buying.
Most common advisories
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 18.5% |
| Wheel bearings: slight play Suspension | 7.4% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 5.5% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 5.4% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 4.8% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 4.1% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 4.1% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 3.3% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 2.8% |
| Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Non-component advisories | 2.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What mileage is normal for a 1989 Austin Mini?
Half of the 1989 Austin Minis tested in 2025 had covered fewer than 55,000 miles. A quarter had covered fewer than 27,200 and a quarter more than 76,100. For all cars first registered in 1989, the middle figure was 88,400 miles, so 1989 Austin Minis have been driven 37.8% less far than average.
Mileage at the 2025 MOT
Odometer readings at each car’s latest MOT of the year. The bar covers the middle half of cars; the line the middle 80%.
| 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 Austin Mini | 8,500 | 27,200 | 55,000 | 76,100 | 88,800 | 759 |
| All 1989 cars | 28,500 | 56,300 | 88,400 | 126,200 | 159,500 | 10,474 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
How many 1989 Austin Minis are left?
At the end of 2014, 3,800 1989 Austin Minis were on the DVLA record in the United Kingdom (these counts start in 2014). By the end of 2025, 4,075 were: 683 licensed and 3,392 declared off the road (SORN). That is 107.2% still on the record, against 89.8% for all cars first registered in 1989.
Share still on the record since 2014
Cars licensed or SORN at each year end, as a share of the number at the end of 2014. Cars scrapped or exported leave the record. Late registrations and imports can push the share above 100%.
| Year end | 1989 Austin Mini | All 1989 cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2015 | 101.8% | 98.0% |
| 2016 | 103.2% | 96.7% |
| 2017 | 107.5% | 96.8% |
| 2018 | 108.0% | 95.6% |
| 2019 | 108.6% | 94.6% |
| 2020 | 108.9% | 93.9% |
| 2021 | 108.7% | 93.1% |
| 2022 | 108.7% | 92.5% |
| 2023 | 107.9% | 91.5% |
| 2024 | 106.7% | 89.9% |
| 2025 | 107.2% | 89.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2025 Updated
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 811 MOT tests of 1989 Austin Mini cars | 15 September 2026 |
| Cars on the record | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of 2025 | 4,075 cars still on the record (licensed or SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
- MOT figures cover normal tests in Great Britain in 2025 of Austin Mini cars first registered in 1989; retests are excluded. “All cars” means every car we match to a model, first registered in 1989.
- Year of first registration is DVSA’s first-use date: when the car was first registered, in the UK or abroad.
- Defects and advisories are DVSA’s descriptions made readable. Where on the car a defect was found (side, front or rear) is ignored, so the same fault on any wheel counts once per test.
- Mileage is the odometer reading at each car’s latest normal MOT of the year, as recorded by the tester. A few readings are in kilometres or mistyped; percentiles are not thrown by a handful of outliers.
- Cars on the record come from DfT table VEH0124 and cover the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland; MOT figures cover Great Britain only.
- DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.