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 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
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The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a popular choice on UK roads.
Euro NCAP awarded the C-Class 5 stars in 2022, with 95% adult occupant and 91% child protection scores.
It has a 77.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,048 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £337/month or 51p/mile.
Theft risk is rated high at 11.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2022
MOT Pass Rate
77.5%
280,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£337
est. annual total
New From
£45,000
Euro NCAP tested the C-Class in 2022 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
95%
Child Occupant
91%
Pedestrian
80%
Safety Assist
78%
There are 158 known DVSA recalls affecting the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/333
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain C-Class (206 platform) GLC (254 platform) and EQE (295 platform) vehicles the bolting of the steering coupling might not meet specifications.
Build dates: 2022-06-28 to 2025-05-20
R/2025/158
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain C-Class (206 platform) vehicles the safety cap of the seatbelt end fitting on the driver seat might not be installed correctly.
Build dates: 2023-08-25 to 2024-07-04
R/2024/474
The software of the engine control unit might not meet specifications regarding misfire detection.
Build dates: 2021-10-28 to 2023-04-19
R/2024/281
On affected vehicles the bolting of an electrical wire on the pre-fuse box in the passenger-side footwell might have not been tightened with sufficient torque.
Build dates: 2021-12-07 to 2022-09-02
R/2024/299
On affected vehicles the bolts of certain 12V and 48V ground connections might be fastened with an insufficient torque.
Build dates: 2021-11-22 to 2021-12-03
+ 153 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 280,000 MOT tests, the C-Class has a first-time pass rate of 77.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The C-Class 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 Mercedes-Benz C-Class are estimated at around £4,048 per year, or £337 per month.
Fuel
£1,305
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,818
/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 C-Class achieves a combined fuel economy of around 40.4 mpg (27.2 mpg urban, 44.1 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| C CLASS COUP� MODEL YEAR 2020.5 | PETROL | 40.4 mpg | 1.5L |
| C CLASS COUP� MODEL YEAR 2020.5 | DIESEL | 56.5 mpg | 1.9L |
| C CLASS COUP� MODEL YEAR 2020.5 | PETROL | 40.4 mpg | 2.0L |
| C CLASS COUP� MODEL YEAR 2020.5 | PETROL | 29.4 mpg | 3.0L |
| C CLASS COUP� MODEL YEAR 2020.5 | PETROL | 25.5 mpg | 4.0L |
| C CLASS ESTATE (F/LIFT) | PETROL | 35.8 mpg | 1.8L |
| C CLASS ESTATE (F/LIFT) | DIESEL | 41.5 mpg | 2.1L |
| C CLASS ESTATE (F/LIFT) | PETROL | 29.4 mpg | 2.5L |
Starting from £45,000 new, a Mercedes-Benz C-Class typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £33,750 | −£11,250 |
| 2 years | 64% | £28,700 | −£16,300 |
| 3 years | 56% | £25,250 | −£19,750 |
| 4 years | 50% | £22,700 | −£22,300 |
| 5 years | 46% | £20,900 | −£24,100 |
| 6 years | 43% | £19,450 | −£25,550 |
| 7 years | 41% | £18,250 | −£26,750 |
| 8 years | 39% | £17,350 | −£27,650 |
| 9 years | 37% | £16,500 | −£28,500 |
| 10 years | 35% | £15,650 | −£29,350 |
The C-Class has a theft rate of 11.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Consider additional security measures such as a steering lock or tracking device.
The C-Class has a 77.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 280,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the C-Class 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2022. It scored 95% for adult occupant protection, 91% for child occupant protection, 80% for vulnerable road users, and 78% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old C-Class are estimated at around £4,048 per year (£337/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 158 known safety recalls affecting the C-Class. 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 C-Class has a theft rate of 11.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Extra security measures like tracking devices and steering locks are recommended.
A new C-Class starts from around £45,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% 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.
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