Austin Princess Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Austin Princess car check
Is the Austin Princess reliable? We analysed 704 real MOT tests across 116 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Austin Princess? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Austin Princess is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake binding and brakes imbalanced across an axle. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Austin Princess.
Austin Princess Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Austin Princess. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Austin Princess MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Austin Princess to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Austin Princess Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Austin Princess fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Austin Princess Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Austin Princess owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Austin Princess MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Austin Princess year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 79 | 83.5% | 40,534 | 65,865 | 84,810 |
| 1960 | 64 | 84.4% | 23,320 | 50,571 | 83,961 |
| 1959 | 59 | 86.4% | 9,367 | 32,082 | 51,258 |
How Long Does a Austin Princess Last?
Based on 116 Austin Princess vehicles on UK roads.
Austin Princess Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Austin Princess MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Austin Princess
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.4% MOT pass rate from 59 tests
83.5% MOT pass rate from 79 tests
The best year to buy a used Austin Princess is 1959, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.4% across 59 tests. The 1961 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Austin Princess Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Princess THIS CAR | 79.0% | 704 | 54,747 mi | 67 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 |
| Jincheng Jc 50 Q-7 | 87% | 301 | 731 mi | 17 yrs |
Compared to the Austin Mini Mayfair (64.7% pass rate) and the Austin Mini 1000 City E (64.5% pass rate), the Austin Princess outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Austin Princess 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 PrincessShould you buy a used Austin Princess?
The Austin Princess has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.0% across 704 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 Princess are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (29 recorded failures), brake binding (23), and brakes imbalanced across an axle (23). 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 Princess owner drives around 367 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 Princess models stay on UK roads for around 67 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.