CarVerify

Free Car Check

J857 RPL

1992 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1588cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires19 Apr 2026
Tests22 (19 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate86.4%

Mileage

76,308 mi
Last recorded76,308 miles
Recorded on3 Apr 2025
Typical for 1992 Lotus Elan76,086 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

RegistrationJ857 RPL
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1992
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

19 pass 3 fail
Pass 3 Apr 2025 76,308 miles

Nearside Front slight play in steering rack

Pass 4 Apr 2024 75,160 miles

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Apr 2023 74,538 miles
Pass 28 Mar 2022 73,975 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2021 73,357 miles

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

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

Pass 23 Apr 2019 72,818 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2019 72,818 miles

Rear Brake pivot has restricted free movement (1.1.15 (e))

Pass 20 Apr 2018 71,734 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Pass 21 Apr 2017 71,008 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 22 Apr 2016 69,858 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2015 69,211 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 2 May 2014 67,651 miles
Pass 3 May 2013 66,511 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2012 65,989 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2012 65,989 miles

Offside Front brake caliper has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

Pass 23 Apr 2011 65,332 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2010 63,483 miles
Fail 9 Apr 2010 63,483 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 3 Apr 2009 62,268 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2008 61,737 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2007 60,619 miles

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 1 Apr 2006 59,614 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

J857 RPL is a 1992 Lotus Elan in Red with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 86.4%.

Across all 1992 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.0% with a typical mileage of 76,086 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 J857 RPL, 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 34 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 J857 RPL?

You can check the full history of J857 RPL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J857 RPL registered?

J857 RPL is a 1992 Lotus Elan, first registered on 23 April 1992.

Is J857 RPL safe to buy?

The MOT history for J857 RPL shows 22 tests with a 86.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J857 RPL 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 J857 RPL. 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.