CarVerify

Free Car Check

H17 NJW

1990 Caterham Seven (S3)

White Petrol 1599cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Apr 2027
Tests17 (13 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate76.5%

Mileage

49,424 mi
Last recorded49,424 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 2026
Typical for 1990 Caterham Seven (S3)25,735 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Caterham
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 NJW
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1990
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,599cc

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

13 pass 4 fail
Pass 8 Apr 2026 49,424 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2025 48,430 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2024 48,088 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2023 47,981 miles
Pass 29 Apr 2022 47,674 miles
Fail 28 Apr 2022 47,674 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.2.2 (b))

Pass 8 Mar 2021 46,995 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Mar 2020 46,361 miles
Fail 4 Mar 2020 46,360 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Oil leaking continuously from engine posing a serious risk to road safety (8.4.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 18 Apr 2018 46,356 miles

Fuel Pipe/s corroded rubber hose between fuel tank and both side of the fuel filter ()

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak ()

Pass 10 Apr 2017 43,225 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front brake slightly binding

Oil leak ()

Pass 25 Apr 2016 40,798 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

oil leak

Fail 25 Apr 2016 40,797 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

oil leak

Pass 9 Apr 2015 39,185 miles
Fail 9 Apr 2015 39,185 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Pass 16 Apr 2014 38,852 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2013 36,854 miles

How Reliable is the Caterham Seven (S3)?

Based on 32,485 MOT tests across 2,453 vehicles.

86.1%
Pass Rate
613
Miles/Year
55
Year Lifespan
2,453
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Stop lamp not working 476
Steering rack gaiter split 309
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 206
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 188
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 185
Full Caterham Seven (S3) 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 NJW is a 1990 Caterham Seven (S3) in White with a 1,599cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.5%.

Across all 1990 Caterham Seven (S3) models, the average MOT pass rate is 84.5% with a typical mileage of 25,735 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 Caterham Seven (S3) fails its MOT is stop lamp not working, accounting for 476 recorded failures. If you're considering buying H17 NJW, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Caterham Seven (S3) typically stays on UK roads for around 55 years. At 36 years old, this Caterham Seven (S3) is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of H17 NJW?

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

What year was H17 NJW registered?

H17 NJW is a 1990 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 3 October 1990.

Is H17 NJW safe to buy?

The MOT history for H17 NJW shows 17 tests with a 76.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does H17 NJW 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 NJW. 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.