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H291 BAU

1991 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Apr 2027
Tests27 (19 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate70.4%

Mileage

51,907 mi
Last recorded51,907 miles
Recorded on20 Apr 2026
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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationH291 BAU
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1991
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc
View full Lotus Elan reliability data

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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

19 pass 8 fail
Pass 20 Apr 2026 51,907 miles
Fail 20 Apr 2026 51,907 miles

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

Pass 30 Apr 2025 49,666 miles
Fail 30 Apr 2025 49,666 miles

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

Pass 25 Apr 2024 48,013 miles
Fail 22 Apr 2024 48,011 miles

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

Pass 26 Apr 2023 46,524 miles
Pass 27 Apr 2022 43,794 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Fail 27 Apr 2022 43,793 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Pass 26 Apr 2021 41,485 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2021 41,485 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Rear Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Pass 27 Feb 2020 39,995 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Pass 19 Feb 2019 38,612 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Suspension arm damaged but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 12 May 2018 37,549 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 20 Apr 2017 35,341 miles

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

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Pass 13 Apr 2016 32,827 miles
Fail 13 Apr 2016 32,827 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Pass 11 May 2015 30,701 miles
Pass 15 Apr 2014 30,043 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2013 29,256 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2012 27,229 miles
Fail 7 Jul 2010 26,047 miles

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

Pass 7 Jul 2010 26,047 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2009 24,625 miles

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)

Pass 3 Sep 2007 21,806 miles
Fail 31 Aug 2007 21,792 miles

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

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

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

Pass 31 Jul 2006 18,859 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

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H291 BAU is a 1991 Lotus Elan in Red with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.4%.

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 H291 BAU, 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 H291 BAU?

You can check the full history of H291 BAU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was H291 BAU registered?

H291 BAU is a 1991 Lotus Elan, first registered on 28 January 1991.

Is H291 BAU safe to buy?

The MOT history for H291 BAU shows 27 tests with a 70.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does H291 BAU 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 H291 BAU. 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.