The title compound, [ZnCl2(C13H11N3)]·C3H7NO, crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system in space group P21/n. The asymmetric unit contains one neutral complex molecule, which consists of a zinc ion, a bidentate ligand, and two chlorido ligands with dimethylformamide monosolvate. The ligand has two moieties, a benzimidazole and an aniline group. The benzimidazole and aniline planes are not coplanar, subtending a dihedral angle of 18.24 (8)°. The Zn(II) ion shows distorted tetrahedral geometry, being coordinated by an imidazole N atom, the aniline N atom, and two chlorido ligands. The packing features N—H...O, N—H...Cl, C—H...Cl hydrogen bonding.