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BENTLEY CONTINENTAL (2018)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 124 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£2,042

£170/month

MOT Pass Rate

99%

Excellent

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 35-50

5998cc Petrol

Great Choice

99% pass rate, £2042/year to run. 17 points above average.

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Petrol5998cc8 years old124 tests18k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 5998cc)

~30 mpg

£1,592
Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200
Total per year£2,042
Per month£170/mo
Per week£39/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

99% MOT pass rate(Excellent)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 17 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the BENTLEY brand average of 94%.

At 8 years old, 99% of BENTLEY CONTINENTALs from 2018 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 124 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 17,702 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2018 cars31th of 649(top 5%)
Rank among BENTLEY models18th of 117(top 15%)
vs national average+17%(82% avg)
vs 2018 cars average+10%(89% avg)
vs BENTLEY average+5%(94% avg)

Mileage Analysis

17,702

Average miles

vs

59,200

Expected for age

The average 2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL has 17,702 miles on the clock, which is significantly below the expected 59,200 miles for a 8-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2017 model with a 100% MOT pass rate, while the 1996 model has the lowest at 82%. The 2018 sits between the two at 99%.

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
201899%12417,702 mi
2017100%32622,906 mi
201697%1,30532,090 mi
201597%2,69236,495 mi
201497%3,03138,240 mi
201396%2,58642,600 mi
201295%2,45246,406 mi
201195%1,93143,910 mi
201090%1,48548,755 mi
200995%1,09252,934 mi
200893%2,27057,980 mi
200794%3,74158,254 mi
200692%3,18063,839 mi
200594%3,05967,698 mi
200492%2,89072,437 mi
200292%3647,578 mi
200091%4341,489 mi
199994%9354,620 mi
199898%19150,796 mi
199796%21652,188 mi
199682%11368,309 mi
199595%8071,808 mi
199485%13485,910 mi
199393%10162,637 mi
199286%7165,582 mi
199090%6267,707 mi

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About the 2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL

The 2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL is a luxury with a 5998cc petrol engine. 124 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. It ranks in the top 5% of all 2018 cars for reliability.

With an average of 17,702 miles at 8 years old, BENTLEY CONTINENTAL owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver. Very low mileage could mean the car has been garaged or used only for short trips, which can cause its own issues like battery drain and moisture buildup.

2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL Fuel Costs

The 5998cc petrol engine is on the larger side, so fuel won't be this car's strong point. Expect around 30 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,592 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,042 170/month), broken down as £1592 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 99% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL Reliability Trend

Newer BENTLEY CONTINENTALs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 4 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL

At 8 years old, this is a solid used buy if you find one with good service history. Depreciation has levelled off, so you won't lose much more value. Focus on condition over mileage. If you're flexible on year, the 2017 model has the highest pass rate at 100%.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Timing Chain / Belt

Watch out

At 8 years old, check whether the timing belt has been replaced (typically due every 5-7 years or 60,000-100,000 miles). A snapped belt can destroy the engine.

Oil Consumption

Medium risk

Larger petrol engines can develop higher oil consumption as they age. Check the oil level and look for blue smoke from the exhaust.

Suspension Wear

Medium risk

Shock absorbers, springs, and anti-roll bar links typically need attention around this age. Listen for clunks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
BENTLEY CONTINENTAL(2018)99%£1592£195Grp 35-50£2042
JEEP CHEROKEE(2016)86%£1592£250Grp 35-50£2247+£205
BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT(2018)97%£1592£190Grp 35-50£2037-£5
BENTLEY BENTAYGA(2016)97%£1592£250Grp 35-50£2097+£55
FERRARI 812 SUPERFAST S-A(2019)98%£1592£190Grp 35-50£2037-£5

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Bentley Models

Explore other Bentley cars or similar models in the same category.

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