CarVerify

Free Car Check

H17 MCB

1991 Lotus Elan

Green Petrol 1588cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Oct 2026
Tests16 (11 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate68.8%

Mileage

52,474 mi
Last recorded52,474 miles
Recorded on20 Oct 2025
Typical for 1991 Lotus Elan80,091 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

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

RegistrationH17 MCB
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1991
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc

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 20 Oct 2025 52,474 miles
Fail 20 Oct 2025 52,474 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 21 Aug 2024 52,422 miles

Offside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 21 Aug 2024 52,422 miles

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 31 Jul 2023 52,318 miles
Pass 29 Apr 2021 52,275 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2021 52,275 miles

Brake performance not tested burst steel pipe (1.2.1 (g))

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 27 Jul 2018 52,066 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 28 Sep 2012 51,830 miles

offside rear tyre outer sidewall has slight split

Fail 21 Aug 2012 51,811 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

offside rear tyre has a split on outer sidewall which does not reach ply or cords

Pass 5 Jul 2011 51,626 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

offside rear tyre has a split on outer sidewall which does not reach ply or cords

Fail 5 Jul 2011 51,626 miles

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Offside Front suspension has a suspension lower ball joint securing nut loose (2.5.B.1a) DANGEROUS

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

offside rear tyre has a split on outer sidewall which does not reach ply or cords

Pass 25 May 2010 57,296 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2009 51,135 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 29 Aug 2006 44,012 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

cut in sidewall of offside rear tyre

Pass 29 Sep 2005 41,631 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Elan?

Based on 51,097 MOT tests across 4,280 vehicles.

77.4%
Pass Rate
554
Miles/Year
59
Year Lifespan
4,280
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,585
brake recording little or no effort 1,342
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,318
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 927
brake binding 845
Full Lotus Elan 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

H17 MCB is a 1991 Lotus Elan in Green with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.8%.

Across all 1991 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.1% with a typical mileage of 80,091 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 Lotus Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying H17 MCB, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elan typically stays on UK roads for around 59 years. At 35 years old, this Lotus Elan is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of H17 MCB?

You can check the full history of H17 MCB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was H17 MCB registered?

H17 MCB is a 1991 Lotus Elan, first registered on 22 March 1991.

Is H17 MCB safe to buy?

The MOT history for H17 MCB 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 H17 MCB 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 H17 MCB. 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.