CarVerify

Free Car Check

H961 PHK

1990 Lotus Elan

Blue Petrol 1588cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Nov 2013
Tests14 (6 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate42.9%

Mileage

104,894 mi
Last recorded104,894 miles
Recorded on23 Jul 2025
Typical for 1990 Lotus Elan82,230 mi

Above 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 £14.99

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

RegistrationH961 PHK
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1990
ColourBlue
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

6 pass 8 fail
Fail 23 Jul 2025 104,894 miles

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

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

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

Rear Brake lever has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side both sides (1.4.1 (a))

Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Fluid leak, but not excessive coolant ? (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Road wheel slightly distorted rim (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Fail 8 Apr 2014 104,870 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

Lower Steering column shaft has slight end float (2.1.3)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 3 Apr 2014 104,846 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

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

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

Lower Steering column shaft has slight end float (2.1.3)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 3 Nov 2012 104,833 miles

slight play in rack o/s/f

Fail 30 Oct 2012 104,822 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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

slight play in rack o/s/f

Pass 23 Aug 2010 103,605 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2010 103,585 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 19 Aug 2009 102,321 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2008 101,257 miles
Fail 4 Aug 2008 107,550 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Pass 29 Aug 2007 98,786 miles
Fail 21 Aug 2007 98,786 miles

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

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

Fail 14 Jun 2007 98,770 miles

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

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

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

Pass 11 Apr 2006 94,515 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

H961 PHK is a 1990 Lotus Elan in Blue with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 42.9%.

Across all 1990 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.8% with a typical mileage of 82,230 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 H961 PHK, 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 36 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 H961 PHK?

You can check the full history of H961 PHK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was H961 PHK registered?

H961 PHK is a 1990 Lotus Elan, first registered on 10 September 1990.

Is H961 PHK safe to buy?

The MOT history for H961 PHK shows 14 tests with a 42.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does H961 PHK 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 H961 PHK. 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.