MOT cost .
Audi A3
MOT 2023
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Audi

A3

493,202 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where A3s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 2.2 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — a confident result.

Pass

77.9%

Pass-after-fix

3.9%

Fail

17.7%

Avg miles

89,763

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

77.9% pass rate — respectable, not flawless

Across 493,202 tests at an average of 89,763 miles, the Audi A3 manages a 77.9% pass rate — one of the stronger results in the compact premium class. Top failures split between cracked or discoloured windscreens, inoperative number plate lamps, and fractured spring components. The windscreen failure is notable: stone chips that looked minor to the owner are often judged differently once the tester applies the correct viewing angle.

One known electrical fault is worth flagging before any MOT: battery cut-out on the 2021 1.5 TSI, traced by dealers to overly sensitive switches triggered by road imperfections. Audi acknowledged it as a common issue. Nothing on that list is structural or expensive to fix in isolation — the A3's pass rate reflects that. Sort the glass, check the rear lamps, and inspect the springs before booking your MOT slot.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

    17,721 occurrences · 3.6% of tests

  2. 02

    A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

    17,404 occurrences · 3.5% of tests

  3. 03

    A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

    16,512 occurrences · 3.3% of tests

  4. 04

    Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

    16,262 occurrences · 3.3% of tests

  5. 05

    A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated

    15,376 occurrences · 3.1% of tests

  6. 06

    A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    9,727 occurrences · 2.0% of tests

  7. 07

    a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm

    8,647 occurrences · 1.8% of tests

  8. 08

    A tyre cords visible or damaged

    8,180 occurrences · 1.7% of tests

  9. 09

    A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    8,179 occurrences · 1.7% of tests

  10. 10

    A tyre seriously damaged

    6,928 occurrences · 1.4% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£148–£370

If every one of this A3's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

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Build your own retest budget.

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

Digital tyre-tread depth gauge

Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.

Search Amazon UK

Owner reports · Honest John

What owners actually report.

Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.

What's good

Sharp looks and classy interior, frugal engine line-up, impressive standard equipment levels.

Recent owner-reported faults

  1. 29 Sep 2021

    Report of battery cut out on 2021 Audi A3 1.5 TSI. Dealer has suggested that the problem may be caused by driving over a hump or pothole in the road. Audi dealer says this is a "common problem which is being taken up with Audi as the switches are too sensitive". Compare new Audi A3 deals Buy new from £25,529(list price from £30,300) View offers

Source: honestjohn.co.uk · 1 reports indexed

Buying or keeping a A3?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a A3 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.