Mercedes-Benz C-Class Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 80% MOT pass rate
  • 7,982 C-Classs checked
  • 9.9% had outstanding finance

Mercedes-Benz C-Class reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Mercedes-Benz C-Class history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Mercedes-Benz C-Class car check:

Of the 71 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 9.9% had outstanding finance recorded and 15.5% an insurance write-off record.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a C-Class by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 7,464 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 80%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 8,000typical miles a year
  • 6.2%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 84,565MOT tests analysed
  • 2009–2016built (middle half)
  • 61%diesel; 32% petrol; 5% hybrid electric (clean); 1% electric diesel

Mercedes-Benz C-Class common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the C-Class's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 18 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
  2. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.2%
  3. Coil spring fractured or broken1.1%
  4. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.0%
  5. Position lamp not working1.0%
  6. Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn1.0%
  7. Headlamp aim too low1.0%
  8. Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.9%
  9. Headlamp aim too high0.9%
  10. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.8%
Show all 18
  1. Brake pipe excessively corroded0.8%
  2. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.8%
  3. Parking brake efficiency below requirements0.8%
  4. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively0.7%
  5. Stop lamp not working0.6%
  6. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid0.6%
  7. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.5%
  8. Track rod end ball joint has excessive play0.5%

Top 20 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge9.1%
  2. Brake pad wearing thin6.2%
  3. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.7%
  4. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.4%
  5. Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material3.8%
  6. Wheel bearing has slight play2.5%
  7. Oil leak, but not excessive1.9%
  8. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.6%
  9. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.5%
  10. Suspension arm ball joint has slight play1.5%
Show all 20
  1. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt1.5%
  2. Brake disc worn, but not excessively1.4%
  3. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.2%
  4. Brake pipe slightly corroded1.1%
  5. Coil spring corroded1.1%
  6. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.0%
  7. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated0.9%
  8. Nail in tyre0.8%
  9. Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'0.7%
  10. Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.7%
  • Lights and indicators: 34% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 32% of failed tests
  • Tyres: 31% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 22% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 10% of failed tests
  • Tyres advisory: 25% of tests
  • Brakes advisory: 22% of tests
  • Suspension advisory: 11% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 7,464 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since March 2023 (84,565 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class versions

Every Mercedes-Benz C-Class version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "C-Class" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
C-Class C
  • C-Class C: 7,252
  • and 1 more
 7,253 80% Lights and indicators
C-Class C300
  • C-Class C 300 AMG Line ED Prem D A: 13
  • C-Class C 300 AMG Line Edition E Auto: 5
  • and 25 more
 67 – –
C-Class C220
  • C-Class C 220 AMG Line Edition D Auto: 13
  • C-Class C 220 AMG Line NGT ED Prem D A: 7
  • C-Class C 220 AMG Line ED Prem D A: 5
  • and 26 more
 58 – –
C-Class C200
  • C-Class C 200 AMG Line Edition Mhev A: 9
  • C-Class C 200 AMG Line Premium Mhev A: 7
  • C-Class C 200 AMG Line ED Prem D A: 6
  • and 12 more
 39 – –
C-Class C320
  • C-Class C 320: 30
 30 – –

Key history checks before buying a used Mercedes-Benz C-Class

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Mercedes-Benz on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the C-Class. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Mercedes-Benz C-Class

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Mercedes-Benz C-Class car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a C-Class by reg → See a sample report

Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT questions

How do I check a used Mercedes-Benz C-Class for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 71 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 9.9% had outstanding finance recorded and 15.5% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a Mercedes-Benz C-Class car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Mercedes-Benz C-Class are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.9% of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 34% of failed tests.

What is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT pass rate?

80% of 84,565 MOT tests on 7,464 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Going by its MOT records, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.9% of tests); engine mil inoperative or indicates a malfunction (1.2% of tests); coil spring fractured or broken (1.1% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 9.1% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Mercedes-Benz C-Class typically driven?

About 8,000 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 6.2% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Mercedes-Benz car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Mercedes-Benz C-Class