Bentley Continental
From 28,337 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Continentals fare better: 2018 models pass at 99.1% vs 89.7% for 2004.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 252 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 252 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 219 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 203 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 115 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 93 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 83 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 70 |
| number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 68 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 66 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 56 |
Bentley Continental on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 540 newly registered in the past year with 138 leaving, a net gain of 402. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 13,889 | 2,858 | +122 | -39 | +83 |
| 2025 Q2 | 13,901 | 2,763 | +134 | -0 | +217 |
| 2025 Q1 | 13,115 | 3,332 | +143 | -0 | +183 |
| 2024 Q4 | 13,034 | 3,230 | +141 | -99 | +42 |
| 2024 Q3 | 13,648 | 2,574 | +28 | -0 | +33 |
| 2024 Q2 | 13,827 | 2,362 | +99 | -0 | +217 |
| 2024 Q1 | 13,433 | 2,539 | +76 | -237 | -161 |
| 2023 Q4 | 13,384 | 2,749 | +97 | -105 | -8 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Gt Auto | Petrol | 3,747 | 28% |
| Continental Gtc Auto | Petrol | 1,730 | 13% |
| Continental Gt V8 Auto | Petrol | 1,352 | 10% |
| Continental Gt Speed Auto | Petrol | 1,231 | 9% |
| Continental Gt S V8 Mds Auto | Petrol | 1,022 | 8% |
| Continental Gt S V8 Auto | Petrol | 871 | 7% |
| Continental Flying Spur A | Petrol | 777 | 6% |
| Continental Gtc V8 Auto | Petrol | 383 | 3% |
| Continental Gt Speed A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 364 | 3% |
| Continental Gt Mds Auto | Petrol | 342 | 3% |
| Continental Supersports A | Petrol | 207 | 2% |
| Continental Gt Speed Hybrid A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 201 | 2% |
| Continental R | Petrol | 165 | 1% |
| Continental Gt A | Petrol | 155 | 1% |
| Continental Supersports Auto | Petrol | 147 | 1% |
| Continental Gtc Speed A | Petrol | 142 | 1% |
| Continental Gt V8 S Auto | Petrol | 133 | <1% |
| Continental Gt Azure V8 Auto | Petrol | 132 | <1% |
| Continental Flying Spur W12 A | Petrol | 113 | <1% |
| Continental Gtc Speed Hybrid A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 103 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 99.1% | number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
| 2017 | 95.3% | - |
| 2016 | 93.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2015 | 96.2% | a tyre seriously damaged, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
15 earlier years
| 2014 | 96.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2013 | 94.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2012 | 94.2% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2011 | 95% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
| 2010 | 87.2% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 92.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2008 | 92.7% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2007 | 92.3% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2006 | 91.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2005 | 92.9% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2004 | 89.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 1998 | 98.4% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 1997 | 94.9% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 1996 | 82.2% | parking brake inoperative on one side, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 1994 | 82.8% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, leaking brake pipe or connection on a hydraulic system |
Typical mileage
Half of all Continentals tested had between 35,296 and 74,187 miles on the clock.
At 60,497 median miles, the Continental has 0.011 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Bentley models
| Bentley Continental Gt | 96.8% |
| Bentley Bentayga | 96.9% |
| Bentley Arnage | 90.3% |
| Bentley Continental Gt V8 Auto | 96.5% |
| Bentley Mulsanne | 94.8% |
Common questions
What is the Bentley Continental MOT pass rate?
The Bentley Continental has a 93.1% MOT pass rate based on 28,337 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Bentley Continental?
The most common MOT failure on the Bentley Continental is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 252 failures. Other common issues include engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction.
How many Bentley Continentals are on UK roads?
There are 13,889 Bentley Continentals currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,858 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Bentley Continental at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Bentley Continental is 60,497 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 35,296 and 74,187 miles.
Buying a used Continental?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.