Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Audi A8?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Audi A8?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Audi A8?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 Audi A8 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

23% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Audi A8 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 958 vehicles, the 2013 Audi A8 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Audi A8?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Audi A8 are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (33.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (32.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (30.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Audi A8?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Audi A8 (2013)

958 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.4% first-time pass rate

2013 Audi A8

CarHunch analysed 958 real MOT records for the 2013 Audi A8. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2013 Audi A8 is notably reliable, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.3%—well above the UK average of 80%—though nearly a quarter of these cars (22.7%) have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their test history, which warrants a careful pre-purchase inspection. The diesel variant, which accounts for the vast majority at 846 vehicles, maintains that strong 91.1% pass rate and is the engine choice in this cohort.

At 73,000 miles median mileage for an eleven-year-old car, these A8s are running below the typical age-adjusted expectation, suggesting relatively light use or good servicing discipline. Owners can expect around 0.91 failures and 7.5 advisories per test cycle—the high advisory count reflects the complexity of luxury saloon systems rather than fundamental unreliability. Have any prospective purchase independently inspected for suspension and electrical components, as these frequently appear in advisory records for this generation.

The 2013 Audi A8 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (91.4%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

91.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

22.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.91

Over 9.7 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

73k

Middle half: 54k–97k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.4% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 7.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 958 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 958 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 33.5%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 16.5%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 11.4%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 958 Audi A8 cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Audi A8

Based on MOT data from 958 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (88%)	846	91.2%	0.94
Petrol (10%)	95	92.3%	0.78

Colour Breakdown

Based on 23,130 Audi A8 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 31.7%

7,340

Silver 22.7%

5,254

Grey 19.3%

4,468

Blue 16.6%

3,842

Green 4.9%

1,144

White 2.1%

497

Red 1.5%

340

Beige 0.5%

113

Gold 0.2%

Purple 0.2%

Brown 0.1%

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Audi A8 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

73,028

typical

54,467

low mileage

96,739

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Audi A8 vehicles fall between 54,467 and 96,739 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 54,467 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 54,467–96,739 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Audi A8s sit.

⚠ Over 130,597 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Audi A8 — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Audi A8s are still being driven.

675 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 77% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

9.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.91

Avg failures per vehicle

7.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Audi A8: All A8 years → Which year to buy? →

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Average reliability — agree?