In 2025, 158,073 Citroën C1 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 68% passed first time, compared with 68% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the C1 about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 124 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 4 years old, 92% of C1s passed first time (all cars that age: 87%). By 20 years, that figure is 53% (all cars: 58%). It starts out ahead of the average car but falls behind from around 17 years, which is worth knowing if you are buying an older one.
Citroën C1 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | C1 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 years | 683 | 92% | 87% | 20,572 |
| 5 years | 3,270 | 87% | 86% | 25,175 |
| 6 years | 5,105 | 84% | 84% | 30,278 |
| 7 years | 7,169 | 84% | 81% | 35,691 |
| 8 years | 9,084 | 80% | 78% | 42,107 |
| 9 years | 18,173 | 76% | 75% | 50,322 |
| 10 years | 17,786 | 76% | 72% | 56,118 |
| 11 years | 13,477 | 73% | 69% | 60,089 |
| 12 years | 13,733 | 68% | 66% | 66,536 |
| 13 years | 13,449 | 65% | 63% | 72,146 |
| 14 years | 13,198 | 61% | 61% | 77,707 |
| 15 years | 12,346 | 59% | 59% | 81,179 |
| 16 years | 10,971 | 56% | 58% | 85,845 |
| 17 years | 8,885 | 53% | 57% | 90,398 |
| 18 years | 6,234 | 53% | 57% | 91,358 |
| 19 years | 3,872 | 52% | 57% | 96,121 |
| 20 years | 618 | 53% | 58% | 95,620 |
What fails most on a Citroën C1
The area that lets the C1 down most, relative to other cars, is seat belts and airbags: 1.2% of tests failed on it, 3.7 times the rate for the average car.
Share of C1 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 5.9% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 4.4% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 4.0% |
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | Brakes | 3.9% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.4% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.1% |
What to check when buying a used C1
Based on where the C1 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific C1
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a C1Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Citroën C1?
In 2025, 68% of Citroën C1 cars passed their MOT first time, across 158,073 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 68%.
What do Citroën C1 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (5.9% of tests); a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.4% of tests); a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (4.0% of tests).
Other Citroën models
Citroën C3 (63%), Citroën Berlingo (58%), Citroën C4 (58%), Citroën DS3 (52%), Citroën Dispatch (57%), Citroën C3 Aircross (82%). All Citroën models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.