Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Audi A6.
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With 130,054 currently licensed in the UK, the Audi A6 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the A6 5 stars in 2018, with 93% adult occupant and 86% child protection scores.
It has a 76.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,263 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £355/month or 53p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2018
MOT Pass Rate
76.5%
95,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£355
est. annual total
New From
£48,000
Euro NCAP tested the A6 in 2018 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
93%
Child Occupant
86%
Pedestrian
76%
Safety Assist
85%
There are 36 known DVSA recalls affecting the Audi A6. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/508
On affected vehicles an important connection in the seat belt buckle may not have been produced correctly during the assembly process.
Build dates: 2025-03-24 to 2025-04-02
R/2025/463
On affected vehicles there may be defective battery modules which may result in a fire hazard when charging the high-voltage battery.
Build dates: 2021-02-26 to 2024-06-10
R/2025/426
On affected vehicles a sub-component of the belt force limiter in the front seat belt retractors may be damaged. Either one or both front seat belt retractors may be affected.
Build dates: 2025-07-11 to 2025-07-17
R/2025/387
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Affected vehicles were originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Certain front airbags contain an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Build dates: 2004-07-27 to 2010-12-10
R/2024/495
On affected vehicles battery modules may become defective over the course of the vehicle’s service life. This may result in a fire hazard when charging the high-voltage battery with the associated risk of severe or fatal injuries to people inside and/or outside the vehicle as well as significant material damage. To minimise this risk do not charge the high-voltage battery using an external charging source. In addition do not use the e-tron modes “Battery charge” and “Battery hold” (refer to Owner’s Manual) until further notice.
Build dates: 2021-03-19 to 2022-10-17
+ 31 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 95,000 MOT tests, the A6 has a first-time pass rate of 76.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The A6 is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Audi A6 are estimated at around £4,263 per year, or £355 per month.
Fuel
£1,399
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,939
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The A6 achieves a combined fuel economy of around 37.7 mpg (28.5 mpg urban, 45.6 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| A6 ALLROAD | DIESEL | 37.7 mpg | 2.7L |
| A6 ALLROAD | DIESEL | 46.3 mpg | 3.0L |
| A6 ALLROAD | PETROL | 31.7 mpg | 3.0L |
| A6 AVANT | PETROL | 49.6 mpg | 1.8L |
| A6 AVANT | DIESEL | 53.3 mpg | 2.0L |
| A6 AVANT | PETROL | 37.7 mpg | 2.0L |
| A6 AVANT | DIESEL | 58.9 mpg | 2.0L |
| A6 AVANT | PETROL | 29.4 mpg | 2.4L |
Starting from £48,000 new, a Audi A6 typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £36,000 | −£12,000 |
| 2 years | 64% | £30,600 | −£17,400 |
| 3 years | 56% | £26,950 | −£21,050 |
| 4 years | 50% | £24,250 | −£23,750 |
| 5 years | 46% | £22,300 | −£25,700 |
| 6 years | 43% | £20,750 | −£27,250 |
| 7 years | 41% | £19,500 | −£28,500 |
| 8 years | 39% | £18,500 | −£29,500 |
| 9 years | 37% | £17,600 | −£30,400 |
| 10 years | 35% | £16,700 | −£31,300 |
There are currently 130,054 licensed and 19,500 SORN A6s in the UK (149,554 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The A6 has a 76.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 95,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the A6 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2018. It scored 93% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child occupant protection, 76% for vulnerable road users, and 85% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old A6 are estimated at around £4,263 per year (£355/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 36 known safety recalls affecting the A6. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new A6 starts from around £48,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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