Bentley Continental Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Bentley Continental car check
Is the Bentley Continental reliable? We analysed 209,069 real MOT tests across 16,051 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Bentley Continental? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Bentley Continental is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords, tyre has ply or cords exposed and headlamp cleaning device inoperative. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bentley Continental.
Bentley Continental Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Bentley Continental. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Bentley Continental MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Bentley Continental to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Bentley Continental Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Bentley Continental fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Bentley Continental Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Bentley Continental owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Bentley Continental MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Bentley Continental year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 249 | 94.8% | 7,522 | 14,296 | 19,332 |
| 2017 | 551 | 96.7% | 10,310 | 16,616 | 24,760 |
| 2016 | 3,131 | 94.2% | 14,480 | 22,453 | 33,122 |
| 2015 | 7,527 | 94.3% | 14,507 | 23,248 | 34,930 |
| 2014 | 8,248 | 93.5% | 15,417 | 25,593 | 38,337 |
| 2013 | 8,838 | 92.5% | 17,888 | 28,299 | 42,630 |
| 2012 | 9,869 | 91.9% | 17,528 | 29,437 | 44,809 |
| 2011 | 8,399 | 91.8% | 18,859 | 31,544 | 47,008 |
| 2010 | 8,845 | 90.8% | 18,703 | 31,534 | 48,091 |
| 2009 | 7,465 | 91.1% | 21,043 | 34,477 | 50,282 |
| 2008 | 17,328 | 90.8% | 21,971 | 36,467 | 55,285 |
| 2007 | 28,414 | 90.5% | 22,765 | 37,875 | 56,644 |
| 2006 | 25,406 | 88.8% | 25,207 | 42,174 | 63,330 |
| 2005 | 30,071 | 88.6% | 27,532 | 44,896 | 66,916 |
| 2004 | 30,806 | 88.7% | 30,278 | 48,492 | 70,114 |
| 2003 | 512 | 91.8% | 19,642 | 36,208 | 54,846 |
| 2002 | 394 | 87.8% | 23,079 | 29,716 | 38,025 |
| 2001 | 522 | 90.6% | 15,324 | 26,682 | 39,468 |
| 2000 | 568 | 87.9% | 18,874 | 30,734 | 51,028 |
| 1999 | 747 | 88.2% | 22,150 | 41,523 | 58,713 |
How Long Does a Bentley Continental Last?
Based on 16,051 Bentley Continental vehicles on UK roads.
Bentley Continental Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Bentley Continental MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Bentley Continental
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
96.7% MOT pass rate from 551 tests
81.3% MOT pass rate from 1,290 tests
The best year to buy a used Bentley Continental is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.7% across 551 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Bentley Continental Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley Continental THIS CAR | 90.0% | 209,069 | 37,776 mi | 29 yrs |
| Bentley Arnage | 85.9% | 40,970 | 45,703 mi | 28 yrs |
| Bentley Turbo | 78.7% | 31,416 | 73,541 mi | 41 yrs |
| Bentley Continental GT | 94.6% | 17,552 | 18,515 mi | 10 yrs |
| BMW 630 | 79.4% | 75,915 | 76,647 mi | 21 yrs |
Compared to the Bentley Arnage (85.9% pass rate) and the Bentley Turbo (78.7% pass rate), the Bentley Continental outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Bentley Continental you like?
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Check a specific Bentley ContinentalShould you buy a used Bentley Continental?
The Bentley Continental has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.0% across 209,069 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Bentley Continental are tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (937 recorded failures), tyre has ply or cords exposed (889), and headlamp cleaning device inoperative (815). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Bentley Continental owner drives around 2,167 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Bentley Continental models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.