CarVerify

Free Car Check

P205 VRE

1996 Mercedes-benz C

Silver Petrol 1799cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Mar 2026
Tests16 (11 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate68.8%

Mileage

168,955 mi
Last recorded168,955 miles
Recorded on10 Mar 2025
Typical for 1996 Mercedes-benz C110,579 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationP205 VRE
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelC
Year1996
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,799cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

11 pass 5 fail
Pass 10 Mar 2025 168,955 miles

multiple areas of slight body corrosion

Pass 7 May 2024 166,058 miles

Offside Front Inner Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 10 Jul 2023 159,171 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2022 153,280 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2022 153,280 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Pass 9 Aug 2021 148,121 miles
Fail 9 Aug 2021 148,121 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 27 Jul 2020 142,316 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2019 136,884 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

coolant leak overheating

Fail 12 Aug 2019 136,884 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

coolant leak overheating

Pass 7 Aug 2018 130,273 miles
Pass 10 Aug 2017 123,779 miles
Fail 9 Aug 2017 123,727 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Pass 16 Aug 2016 118,230 miles

Nearside Rear tyre outer edge worn

Offside Front Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Fail 16 Aug 2016 118,230 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed outer wall (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Rear tyre outer edge worn

Offside Front Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 2 May 2006 118,224 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz C?

Based on 8,031,355 MOT tests across 683,668 vehicles.

77.6%
Pass Rate
6,412
Miles/Year
32
Year Lifespan
683,668
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 240,078
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 76,831
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 67,503
Brake pipe excessively corroded 66,298
coil spring broken 61,560
Full Mercedes-benz C reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P205 VRE is a 1996 Mercedes-benz C in Silver with a 1,799cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.8%.

Across all 1996 Mercedes-benz C models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.5% with a typical mileage of 110,579 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz C fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 240,078 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P205 VRE, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz C typically stays on UK roads for around 32 years. At 30 years old, this Mercedes-benz C is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P205 VRE?

You can check the full history of P205 VRE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P205 VRE registered?

P205 VRE is a 1996 Mercedes-benz C, first registered on 31 December 1996.

Is P205 VRE safe to buy?

The MOT history for P205 VRE shows 16 tests with a 68.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P205 VRE have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on P205 VRE. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.