CarVerify

Free Car Check

J990 VEW

1992 Lotus Elan

Yellow Petrol 1588cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Apr 2027
Tests22 (20 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate90.9%

Mileage

42,092 mi
Last recorded42,092 miles
Recorded on13 Apr 2026
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

RegistrationJ990 VEW
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1992
ColourYellow
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

20 pass 2 fail
Pass 13 Apr 2026 42,092 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Inner face poor (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Inner face poor (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 15 Apr 2025 41,911 miles
Pass 1 May 2024 41,801 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2023 41,711 miles
Pass 7 Apr 2022 41,386 miles
Pass 26 Apr 2021 41,191 miles
Pass 6 May 2019 40,696 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Jul 2018 39,013 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 30 Jun 2018 38,896 miles

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

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 17 Jul 2017 37,895 miles
Pass 8 Jul 2016 37,017 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2015 35,748 miles

Nearside Outer Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Outer Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

nearside front windscreen wiper juddering

Pass 20 Jun 2014 35,235 miles
Fail 16 Jun 2014 35,087 miles

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

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

Pass 28 Jun 2013 34,356 miles
Pass 14 Jun 2012 32,754 miles

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 23 Jun 2011 30,852 miles
Pass 1 Jul 2010 29,007 miles
Pass 29 Jun 2009 28,277 miles
Pass 16 Jun 2008 26,815 miles

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

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

Pass 18 Jun 2007 26,275 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2006 25,659 miles

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

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

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

J990 VEW is a 1992 Lotus Elan in Yellow with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90.9%.

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 J990 VEW, 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 J990 VEW?

You can check the full history of J990 VEW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J990 VEW registered?

J990 VEW is a 1992 Lotus Elan, first registered on 17 July 1992.

Is J990 VEW safe to buy?

The MOT history for J990 VEW shows 22 tests with a 90.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J990 VEW 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 J990 VEW. 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.