CarVerify

Austin 10 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Austin 10 car check

Is the Austin 10 reliable? We analysed 2,084 real MOT tests across 374 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Austin 10? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 2,084 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.5%
Typical Mileage
14,752mi
Annual Mileage
180mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
94yrs

The Austin 10 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake recording little or no effort, service brake: efficiency below requirements and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Austin 10.

Austin 10 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Austin 10. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Austin 10 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Austin 10 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

92.6%
1947
84.4%
1946
84.5%
1939
92.5%
1938
89.8%
1937
90.8%
1936
88.9%
1935
90.7%
1934
92.5%
1933
88.7%
1932

Austin 10 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Austin 10 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

brake recording little or no effort 31
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 22
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 21
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 19
parking brake recording little or no effort 19
Stop lamp not working 18
Headlamp not working on main beam 17
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 13
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 12
brake application uneven 11

Austin 10 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Austin 10 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
56 mi/yr
Typical
180 mi/yr
Average
1,124 mi/yr
Heavy usage
511 mi/yr

Austin 10 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Austin 10 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1947 81 92.6% 17,261 29,819 55,274
1946 77 84.4% 12,320 22,028 58,058
1939 71 84.5% 22,080 57,960 75,644
1938 146 92.5% 13,361 41,665 71,426
1937 176 89.8% 16,452 49,021 72,070
1936 303 90.8% 22,813 69,622 86,899
1935 288 88.9% 4,636 37,695 75,956
1934 290 90.7% 3,442 7,074 8,505
1933 266 92.5% 3,409 5,189 7,500
1932 71 88.7% 4,108 5,937 7,430

How Long Does a Austin 10 Last?

Based on 374 Austin 10 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
68.5 years
Median
75.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
94 years

Austin 10 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Austin 10 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,752 mi
75th Percentile
66,008 mi
95th Percentile
92,399 mi
Max Recorded
99,991 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Austin 10

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1947

92.6% MOT pass rate from 81 tests

Year to avoid
1946

84.4% MOT pass rate from 77 tests

The best year to buy a used Austin 10 is 1947, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.6% across 81 tests. The 1946 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Austin 10 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Austin 10 THIS CAR 90.5% 2,084 14,752 mi 94 yrs
Austin Mini Mayfair 64.7% 51,788 54,118 mi 44 yrs
Austin Mini 1000 City E 64.5% 44,703 54,880 mi 44 yrs
Austin Mini 75.1% 18,242 47,796 mi 66 yrs
Piaggio ET4 78.6% 1,194 12,679 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Austin Mini Mayfair (64.7% pass rate) and the Austin Mini 1000 City E (64.5% pass rate), the Austin 10 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Austin 10 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Austin 10

Should you buy a used Austin 10?

The Austin 10 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.5% across 2,084 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Austin 10 are brake recording little or no effort (31 recorded failures), service brake: efficiency below requirements (22), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (21). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Austin 10 owner drives around 180 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Austin 10 models stay on UK roads for around 94 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Austin 10 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Austin 10 reliable?
Based on 2,084 MOT tests, the Austin 10 has a 90.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Austin 10?
The most common MOT failures are brake recording little or no effort, service brake: efficiency below requirements, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Austin 10 do per year?
The typical Austin 10 does around 180 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Austin 10 last?
Most Austin 10 models stay on UK roads for around 94 years based on our analysis of 374 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Austin 10?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Austin 10?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Austin 10 is 1947 with a 92.6% pass rate across 81 tests.