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 Citroen C3.
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.
With 258,374 currently licensed in the UK, the Citroen C3 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the C3 4 stars in 2017, with 88% adult occupant and 83% child protection scores.
It has a 76.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, lighting, brakes.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,174 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £181/month or 29p/mile.
Theft risk is rated very low at 2.3 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2017
MOT Pass Rate
76.2%
95,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£181
est. annual total
New From
£19,050
Euro NCAP tested the C3 in 2017 and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
88%
Child Occupant
83%
Pedestrian
59%
Safety Assist
58%
There are 111 known DVSA recalls affecting the Citroen C3. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/122
On affected vehicles due to a Body Control Module (BCM) software weakness an alarm siren may randomly trigger when the vehicle is locked.
Build dates: 2025-01-15 to 2026-02-09
R/2026/122
On affected vehicles due to a Body Control Module (BCM) software weakness an alarm siren may randomly trigger when the vehicle is locked.
Build dates: 2025-03-25 to 2026-02-09
R/2026/068
Affected vehicles may have a power steering harness routed between two screws where minor vibrations could cause harness damage resulting in a possible short circuit. This could lead to a loss of power‑steering assistance and in worst case a fire.
Build dates: 2025-02-21 to 2025-05-31
R/2026/073
Affected vehicles may have been assembled with contact or with a reduced clearance between the Gasoline Particulate Filter pipe and the pole protection cap of the 48V Belt Starter Generator. There is a possibility of contact between these components leading to water infiltration and an electrical arch which could trigger a thermal event.
Build dates: 2024-11-22 to 2025-12-22
R/2026/073
Affected vehicles may have been assembled with contact or with a reduced clearance between the Gasoline Particulate Filter pipe and the pole protection cap of the 48V Belt Starter Generator. There is a possibility of contact between these components leading to water infiltration and an electrical arch which could trigger a thermal event.
Build dates: 2024-02-22 to 2025-12-22
+ 106 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 95,000 MOT tests, the C3 has a first-time pass rate of 76.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The C3 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 Citroen C3 are estimated at around £2,174 per year, or £181 per month.
Fuel
£881
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£693
/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 C3 achieves a combined fuel economy of around 65.7 mpg (55.4 mpg urban, 74.3 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| C3 | PETROL | 65.7 mpg | 1.0L |
| C3 | PETROL | 47.9 mpg | 1.1L |
| C3 | PETROL | 49.4 mpg | 1.2L |
| C3 | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 58.9 mpg | 1.2L |
| C3 | PETROL | 46.3 mpg | 1.4L |
| C3 | PETROL | 51.4 mpg | 1.4L |
| C3 | DIESEL | 83.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| C3 | DIESEL | 67 mpg | 1.5L |
Starting from £19,050 new, a Citroen C3 typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 68% | £12,850 | −£6,200 |
| 2 years | 57% | £10,950 | −£8,100 |
| 3 years | 50% | £9,600 | −£9,450 |
| 4 years | 45% | £8,650 | −£10,400 |
| 5 years | 42% | £7,950 | −£11,100 |
| 6 years | 39% | £7,400 | −£11,650 |
| 7 years | 37% | £6,950 | −£12,100 |
| 8 years | 35% | £6,600 | −£12,450 |
| 9 years | 33% | £6,300 | −£12,750 |
| 10 years | 31% | £5,950 | −£13,100 |
The C3 has a theft rate of 2.3 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 258,374 licensed and 14,273 SORN C3s in the UK (272,647 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The C3 has a 76.2% 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 C3 4 out of 5 stars when tested in 2017. It scored 88% for adult occupant protection, 83% for child occupant protection, 59% for vulnerable road users, and 58% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old C3 are estimated at around £2,174 per year (£181/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 111 known safety recalls affecting the C3. 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.
The C3 has a theft rate of 2.3 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new C3 starts from around £19,050. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% 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.
Free MOT History Check
See every test result, advisory and failure since 2005.
Free Car Valuation
Estimate what a vehicle is worth based on age, mileage and condition.
Safety Recall Check
Check if a vehicle has any outstanding safety recalls.
ULEZ Compliance Check
Check if a vehicle meets London ULEZ emission standards.
Your MOT could be due soon — Set a free reminder(up to £1,000 fine for driving without)