Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 257,646 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 84% adult occupant and 73% 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 £2,130 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £177/month or 27p/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
£177
est. annual total
New From
£20,000
Euro NCAP tested the C3 in 2017 and awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
84%
Child Occupant
73%
Pedestrian
68%
Safety Assist
56%
There are 105 known DVSA recalls affecting the Citroen C3. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/487
On affected vehicles there may be a software bug in the Body Control Module (BCM) which prevents a connection to the server and affects the speed limit indication system.
Build dates: 2024-06-04 to 2025-05-07
R/2025/514
On affected vehicles there may be an insufficient brake pedal bracket connection due to a missing or incorrectly assembled pin. If the pin falls out the brake pedal will potentially disengage.
Build dates: 2025-05-15 to 2025-11-01
R/2025/514
On affected vehicles there may be an insufficient brake pedal bracket connection due to a missing or incorrectly assembled pin. If the pin falls out the brake pedal will potentially disengage.
Build dates: 2025-06-10 to 2025-11-02
R/2025/363
On affected vehicles there is a risk of the brake bar welding breaking leading to a complete loss of braking.
Build dates: 2025-06-04 to 2025-08-02
R/2025/346
Vehicles may be affected by incorrect performance of the On-Board-Diagnostics related to Selective Catalytic Reduction system and/or Diesel Particle Filter. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may not illuminate in the event of a malfunction and therefore does not comply with emission regulations.
Build dates: 2017-09-12 to 2020-11-28
+ 100 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 £2,130 per year, or £177 per month.
Fuel
£803
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£727
/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 | 47.1 mpg | 1.1L |
| C3 | PETROL | 49.4 mpg | 1.2L |
| C3 | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 58.9 mpg | 1.2L |
| C3 | PETROL | 47.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| C3 | PETROL | 47.9 mpg | 1.4L |
| C3 | DIESEL | 83.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| C3 | DIESEL | 67 mpg | 1.5L |
Starting from £20,000 new, a Citroen C3 typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 68% | £13,500 | −£6,500 |
| 2 years | 57% | £11,500 | −£8,500 |
| 3 years | 50% | £10,100 | −£9,900 |
| 4 years | 45% | £9,100 | −£10,900 |
| 5 years | 42% | £8,350 | −£11,650 |
| 6 years | 39% | £7,800 | −£12,200 |
| 7 years | 37% | £7,300 | −£12,700 |
| 8 years | 35% | £6,950 | −£13,050 |
| 9 years | 33% | £6,600 | −£13,400 |
| 10 years | 31% | £6,250 | −£13,750 |
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 257,646 licensed and 13,881 SORN C3s in the UK (271,527 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 84% for adult occupant protection, 73% for child occupant protection, 68% for vulnerable road users, and 56% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old C3 are estimated at around £2,130 per year (£177/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 105 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 £20,000. 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.
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Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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