Citroen C1 (2021)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 1,007 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£1,630

£136/month

MOT Pass Rate

97%

Excellent

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 1-8

998cc Petrol

Great Choice

97% pass rate, £1,630/year to run. 15 points above average.

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Petrol998cc5 years old1,007 tests15k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 998cc)

~50 mpg

£1,175

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,630

Per month£136/mo

Per week£31/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

97% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 15 points above the average of 82% across all models in our data. It also outperforms the Citroen brand average of 79%.

97% of MOT tests on Citroen C1s from 2021 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 3 years old. That's based on 1,007 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 14,721 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 models286th of 3,336(top 9%)

Rank among Citroen models5th of 589(top 1%)

vs average of all models+15%(82% avg)

vs 2021 models average+5%(92% avg)

vs Citroen average+18%(79% avg)

Mileage Analysis

14,721

Average miles

22,200

Expected for age

The average 2021 Citroen C1 had 14,721 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is below the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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Citroen C1 by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	97%	1,007	14,721 mi
2020	92%	4,973	20,126 mi
2019	92%	7,609	25,594 mi
2018	90%	10,911	31,463 mi
2017	87%	14,184	38,152 mi
2016	86%	28,817	46,713 mi
2015	85%	28,726	52,488 mi
2014	83%	22,356	57,198 mi
2013	80%	23,281	63,889 mi
2012	79%	23,468	69,673 mi
2011	77%	23,890	75,624 mi
2010	75%	22,959	78,955 mi
2009	72%	21,467	85,279 mi
2008	70%	19,249	90,280 mi
2007	69%	13,771	91,524 mi
2006	69%	8,701	96,037 mi
2005	69%	1,262	95,875 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Ford Fiesta

2019 · 998cc Petrol

£1,630/year

91%

-6%

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

-5%

Vauxhall Corsa

2019 · 1398cc Petrol

£2,003/year

88%

-9%

Audi A3

2019 · 999cc Petrol

£1,630/year

92%

-5%

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About the 2021 Citroen C1

The 2021 Citroen C1 is a city car. Our records list a 998cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 1,007 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a reasonably common sight on UK roads. It ranks in the top 9% of all 2021 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 14,721 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Citroen C1 owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2021 Citroen C1 Fuel Costs

The modest 998cc petrol engine keeps fuel costs low, which is a real advantage for a city car. Expect around 50 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,175 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 Citroen C1?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,630 (£136/month), broken down as £1,175 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 97% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

Citroen C1 Reliability Trend

Newer Citroen C1s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 16 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Buying a Used 2021 Citroen C1

At 5 years old, the Citroen C1 offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Coil Pack Failure

Medium risk

Smaller petrol engines are prone to ignition coil failures, causing misfires and rough running. Replacement is £50-£150 per coil.

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 2021 Citroen C1 stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Citroen C1(2021)	97%	£1,175	£200	Grp 1-8	£1,630
Ford Fiesta(2019)	91%	£1,175	£200	Grp 1-8	£1,630same
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853+£223
Vauxhall Corsa(2019)	88%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,003+£373
Audi A3(2019)	92%	£1,175	£200	Grp 1-8	£1,630same

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2021 Citroen C1

Is the 2021 Citroen C1 reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 97% of MOT tests on 2021 Citroen C1s ended in a pass, from 1,007 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 15 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2021 Citroen C1 cost to run?

Our estimate is £1,630 a year (£136 a month): £1,175 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £200 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 Citroen C1?

97% of 1,007 MOT tests on the 2021 Citroen C1 ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 286th of 3,336 models first registered in 2021 (top 9%).

Which year Citroen C1 has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2021 Citroen C1 has the highest MOT pass rate at 97% and the 2005 the lowest at 69%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2021 Citroen C1?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2021 Citroen C1 is 14,721 miles, which is below the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.