The title compound, C(9)H(9)ClN(2), was prepared from the reaction of N-methyl-benzene-1,2-diamine and 2-chloro-acetic acid in boiling 6 M hydro-chloric acid. The benzimidazole unit is approximately planar, the largest deviation from the mean plane being 0.008 (1) Å. The Cl atom is displaced by 1.667 (2) Å from this plane. The methyl group is statistically disordered with equal occupancy.