CarVerify

Free Car Check

H283 JAF

1991 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1588cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Mar 2026
Tests24 (16 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

81,722 mi
Last recorded81,722 miles
Recorded on12 Mar 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

RegistrationH283 JAF
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1991
ColourRed
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

16 pass 8 fail
Pass 12 Mar 2025 81,722 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2023 81,147 miles
Fail 29 Jun 2023 81,145 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Apr 2022 81,144 miles
Pass 21 May 2021 80,963 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2021 80,956 miles

Brake performance not tested (1.2.1 (g))

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

engine sump rusty and slight leak

Pass 6 Aug 2018 80,775 miles

slight wheel bearing noise

Fail 4 Jul 2018 80,770 miles

Steering column universal joint modified such that the steering is adversely affected lower steering column uj seized /very tight (2.1.3 (f) (ii)) DANGEROUS

hand brake performance only just meets standard

n/s/r tyre out of shape

Pass 14 Jul 2017 80,007 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 10 Jul 2017 80,007 miles

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

all tyres 9 years old or older

Pass 8 Jul 2016 79,573 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2015 78,979 miles
Fail 1 Jul 2015 78,977 miles

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

Pass 27 Jun 2014 78,446 miles

surface rust on rear suspension

Pass 20 Jul 2013 78,188 miles

parking brake only just made standard

Fail 20 Jul 2013 78,188 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

n/s/r tyre heavliy perished

o/s/f tyre perished

parking brake only just made standard

Pass 4 Apr 2012 77,965 miles

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

o/s/f and n/s/r tyres perished

slight noise in n/s/f hub bearing

Pass 28 May 2011 77,762 miles

slight leak from centre of exhaust

Fail 24 Mar 2010 77,518 miles

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

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 24 Mar 2010 77,518 miles
Pass 30 May 2008 77,370 miles
Fail 12 May 2008 77,342 miles

Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h) DANGEROUS

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a) DANGEROUS

Offside Front brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h) DANGEROUS

Offside Headlamp not in good working order (not working) (1.2.4a) DANGEROUS

Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h) DANGEROUS

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a) DANGEROUS

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3) DANGEROUS

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

N/S/R TYRE PERRISHING

Pass 4 Oct 2006 76,959 miles

handbrake readings just to required standard

Pass 1 Jul 2005 76,653 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

H283 JAF is a 1991 Lotus Elan in Red with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 H283 JAF, 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 H283 JAF?

You can check the full history of H283 JAF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was H283 JAF registered?

H283 JAF is a 1991 Lotus Elan, first registered on 2 January 1991.

Is H283 JAF safe to buy?

The MOT history for H283 JAF shows 24 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does H283 JAF 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 H283 JAF. 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.