CarCostCheck

RENAULT CLIO (1999)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 1,795 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,875

£156/month

MOT Pass Rate

65%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£165

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 5-15

1149cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

65% pass rate, £1875/year to run. 17 points below average.

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Petrol1149cc27 years old1,795 tests73k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1149cc)

~50 mpg

£955
Road Tax

Based on 1149cc

£165
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£700
Total per year£1,875
Per month£156/mo
Per week£36/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

65% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 17 points below the national average of 82%. It falls below the RENAULT brand average of 80%.

At 27 years old, 65% of RENAULT CLIOs from 1999 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 1,795 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 73,213 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 1999 cars338th of 375(top 90%)
Rank among RENAULT models600th of 636(top 94%)
vs national average-17%(82% avg)
vs 1999 cars average-10%(75% avg)
vs RENAULT average-15%(80% avg)

Mileage Analysis

73,213

Average miles

vs

199,800

Expected for age

The average 1999 RENAULT CLIO has 73,213 miles on the clock, which is significantly below the expected 199,800 miles for a 27-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 2020 model with a 91% MOT pass rate, while the 1997 model has the lowest at 65%. The 1999 sits between the two at 65%.

RENAULT CLIO by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
202189%10021,382 mi
202091%17929,866 mi
201985%26,86036,462 mi
201883%36,13642,612 mi
201779%36,29249,966 mi
201675%43,20557,120 mi
201574%47,76865,492 mi
201472%53,58773,080 mi
201373%40,82278,551 mi
201269%29,26878,354 mi
201169%35,75482,376 mi
201069%47,48387,399 mi
200969%33,35288,686 mi
200868%32,83193,332 mi
200768%41,22393,129 mi
200668%31,06193,067 mi
200567%18,42390,500 mi
200468%15,17990,784 mi
200368%10,05087,632 mi
200270%6,57386,792 mi
200169%3,82983,579 mi
200067%1,97882,306 mi
199965%1,79573,213 mi
199868%85269,470 mi
199765%45664,661 mi
199675%55374,001 mi
199576%55380,682 mi
199478%43283,137 mi
199375%16769,528 mi
199269%9787,795 mi
199187%3075,002 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

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About the 1999 RENAULT CLIO

The 1999 RENAULT CLIO is a city car with a 1149cc petrol engine. 1,795 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a reasonably common sight on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 90% of 1999 cars for MOT pass rates.

With an average of 73,213 miles at 27 years old, RENAULT CLIO 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.

1999 RENAULT CLIO Fuel Costs

The modest 1149cc 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 1999 RENAULT CLIO?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,875 156/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £165 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 65% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

RENAULT CLIO Reliability Trend

Newer RENAULT CLIOs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 6 percentage points.

Buying a Used 1999 RENAULT CLIO

At 27 years old, the RENAULT CLIO is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. If you're flexible on year, the 2020 model has the highest pass rate at 91%.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 1999 RENAULT CLIO'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.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Higher Than Average Failure Rate

Watch out

With a 65% MOT pass rate, this model fails more often than most. Budget for unexpected repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

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 1999 RENAULT CLIO stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
RENAULT CLIO(1999)65%£955£165Grp 5-15£1875
TOYOTA YARIS(2001)71%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£153
FORD FOCUS(2001)68%£1137£135Grp 12-25£2027+£152
MAZDA MX-5(1999)73%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1827-£48
HONDA CIVIC(2001)70%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1827-£48

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 Renault Models

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

Related Guides

In-depth articles relevant to the Renault Clio.

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