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Austin 1300 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Austin 1300 car check

Is the Austin 1300 reliable? We analysed 2,322 real MOT tests across 331 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,322 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
75.5%
Typical Mileage
46,594mi
Annual Mileage
372mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
58yrs

The Austin 1300 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Austin 1300.

Austin 1300 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Austin 1300. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Austin 1300 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Austin 1300 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

84.7%
1974
78%
1973
74.4%
1972
72.4%
1971
75.7%
1970
77.4%
1969
78.7%
1968

Austin 1300 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Austin 1300 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 150
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 111
brake recording little or no effort 101
brake binding 86
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 75
parking brake recording little or no effort 66
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 63
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 59
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 42
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 41

Austin 1300 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Austin 1300 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
78 mi/yr
Typical
372 mi/yr
Average
857 mi/yr
Heavy usage
939 mi/yr

Austin 1300 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Austin 1300 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1974 59 84.7% 21,833 27,203 38,700
1973 313 78.0% 29,640 42,234 61,614
1972 606 74.4% 38,866 50,342 65,600
1971 572 72.4% 26,459 41,667 64,690
1970 321 75.7% 36,064 53,360 67,972
1969 266 77.4% 35,447 40,246 52,681
1968 94 78.7% 27,163 42,496 52,580

How Long Does a Austin 1300 Last?

Based on 331 Austin 1300 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
42.5 years
Median
44.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
58 years

Austin 1300 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Austin 1300 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
46,594 mi
75th Percentile
63,804 mi
95th Percentile
86,913 mi
Max Recorded
944,369 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Austin 1300

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

Best year
1974

84.7% MOT pass rate from 59 tests

Year to avoid
1971

72.4% MOT pass rate from 572 tests

The best year to buy a used Austin 1300 is 1974, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.7% across 59 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Austin 1300 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Austin 1300 THIS CAR 75.5% 2,322 46,594 mi 58 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
Porsche 911 Carrera 84.5% 2,220 68,659 mi 32 yrs

Compared to the Austin Mini Mayfair (64.7% pass rate) and the Austin Mini 1000 City E (64.5% pass rate), the Austin 1300 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Austin 1300?

The Austin 1300 has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.5% across 2,322 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 1300 are subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (150 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (111), and brake recording little or no effort (101). 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 1300 owner drives around 372 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 1300 models stay on UK roads for around 58 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 1300 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Austin 1300 reliable?
Based on 2,322 MOT tests, the Austin 1300 has a 75.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Austin 1300?
The most common MOT failures are subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and brake recording little or no effort. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Austin 1300 do per year?
The typical Austin 1300 does around 372 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Austin 1300 last?
Most Austin 1300 models stay on UK roads for around 58 years based on our analysis of 331 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Austin 1300?
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 1300?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Austin 1300 is 1974 with a 84.7% pass rate across 59 tests.