Is the 2021 CITROEN C3 reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 95% of CITROEN C3s from 2021 passed their MOT first time in 2026, based on 2,263 tests. That's 13 points above the national average of 82%.

How much does a 2021 CITROEN C3 cost to run?

Estimated annual running cost is £1,405 (£117/month), including £955 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 CITROEN C3?

The 2021 CITROEN C3 has a 95% MOT pass rate based on 2,263 tests in 2026. This ranks 763 out of 3373 cars from 2021.

Which year CITROEN C3 is most reliable?

The 2021 CITROEN C3 has the highest MOT pass rate at 95%. The least reliable year is 2003 at 66%.

CITROEN C3 (2021)

Q: What is the average mileage for a 2021 CITROEN C3?

The average mileage for a 2021 CITROEN C3 is 22,520 miles, which is below the expected 37,000 miles for a 5-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 2,263 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,405

£117/month

MOT Pass Rate

95%

Excellent

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 5-15

1199cc Petrol

Great Choice

95% pass rate, £1405/year to run. 13 points above average.

Buying this car? Check for finance, write-offs & theft

£4.99

Check a specific CITROEN C3

Enter a reg plate for full MOT history, mileage check, health score, running costs, and reliability data. Free, instant, no signup.

Petrol1199cc5 years old2,263 tests23k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1199cc)

~50 mpg

£955

Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,405

Per month£117/mo

Per week£27/wk

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

🛡️

Get an insurance quote for this CITROEN C3

Compare quotes and find the best deal

Reliability Verdict

95% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%National avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 13 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the CITROEN brand average of 79%.

At 5 years old, 95% of CITROEN C3s from 2021 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 2,263 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 22,520 miles.

Got a CITROEN C3 you're looking at?

Enter the reg plate to check its specific MOT history, mileage, and health score.

How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 cars763th of 3,373(top 23%)

Rank among CITROEN models23th of 599(top 4%)

vs national average+13%(82% avg)

vs 2021 cars average+3%(92% avg)

vs CITROEN average+16%(79% avg)

Mileage Analysis

22,520

Average miles

37,000

Expected for age

The average 2021 CITROEN C3 has 22,520 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 37,000 miles for a 5-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

Looking at a specific CITROEN C3?

Enter its reg plate for a free check with full MOT history, mileage verification, and predicted costs.

CITROEN C3 by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	95%	2,263	22,520 mi
2020	92%	8,971	27,660 mi
2019	90%	21,008	34,490 mi
2018	87%	27,579	42,489 mi
2017	83%	26,229	48,621 mi
2016	81%	14,550	49,050 mi
2015	80%	20,260	57,154 mi
2014	78%	23,397	63,397 mi
2013	75%	23,764	72,482 mi
2012	74%	27,170	78,633 mi
2011	72%	28,478	86,832 mi
2010	70%	34,884	92,470 mi
2009	70%	18,371	90,369 mi
2008	69%	9,548	82,491 mi
2007	69%	10,339	83,180 mi
2006	69%	9,119	82,871 mi
2005	68%	7,830	85,484 mi
2004	68%	6,480	84,830 mi
2003	66%	5,188	87,266 mi
2002	67%	1,745	92,973 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

FORD FIESTA

2019 · 998cc Petrol

£1,400/year

91%

-4%

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,582/year

92%

-3%

VAUXHALL CORSA

2019 · 1398cc Petrol

£1,732/year

88%

-7%

NISSAN QASHQAI

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,582/year

93%

-2%

Check a Specific Citroen C3

Enter a reg plate to get the full MOT history, health score, and mileage verification.

Upgrade to Premium (£4.99) for stolen, finance, and write-off checks.

About the 2021 CITROEN C3

The 2021 CITROEN C3 is a city car with a 1199cc petrol engine. 2,263 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a reasonably common sight on UK roads. It ranks in the top 23% of all 2021 cars for reliability.

With an average of 22,520 miles at 5 years old, CITROEN C3 owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2021 CITROEN C3 Fuel Costs

The modest 1199cc 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 £955 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 CITROEN C3?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,405 (£117/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 95% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

CITROEN C3 Reliability Trend

Newer CITROEN C3s show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 15 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2021 CITROEN C3

At 5 years old, the CITROEN C3 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

Based on the 2021 CITROEN C3's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

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 C3 stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Insurance	Total/yr
CITROEN C3(2021)	95%	£955	£195	Grp 5-15	£1405
FORD FIESTA(2019)	91%	£955	£190	Grp 1-8	£1400-£5
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF(2019)	92%	£1137	£190	Grp 12-25	£1582+£177
VAUXHALL CORSA(2019)	88%	£1137	£190	Grp 8-20	£1732+£327
NISSAN QASHQAI(2020)	93%	£1137	£190	Grp 12-25	£1582+£177

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.