CarVerify

Free Car Check

N297 CHC

1996 Rover Mini

Purple Petrol 1275cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires31 Jul 2026
Tests19 (10 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate52.6%

Mileage

39,443 mi
Last recorded39,443 miles
Recorded on1 Aug 2025
Typical for 1996 Rover Mini50,437 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Rover
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

RegistrationN297 CHC
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1996
ColourPurple
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,275cc

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

10 pass 9 fail
Pass 1 Aug 2025 39,443 miles

Central Front Upper Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Fail 19 Jul 2025 39,439 miles

Offside Front Outer Suspension arm ball joint likely to become detached lower ball joint loose in hub (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Central Front Upper Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 16 Aug 2023 38,641 miles
Fail 5 Aug 2023 38,636 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced inner wheel arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 18 Jun 2014 38,618 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Fail 17 May 2013 36,347 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 17 May 2013 36,347 miles
Pass 26 May 2012 31,191 miles

Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

both front floor pans corroded

nearside outer sill corroded

Fail 25 Apr 2012 31,177 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

nearside outer sill corroded

Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

corrosion to both front floor pans

Fail 11 Apr 2012 31,160 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Rear fog lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.3.2f)

Nearside Rear Hydraulic brake cylinder insecurely mounted (3.6.A.2a) DANGEROUS

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Slight corrosion to both front floor pans

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Pass 9 Apr 2011 28,049 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2011 28,030 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Pass 14 Oct 2009 27,480 miles
Fail 13 Oct 2009 27,480 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

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

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 29 Aug 2008 37,316 miles
Fail 9 Jul 2007 26,736 miles

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

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) incorrect colour (1.1.A.3e)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 9 Jul 2007 26,736 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2006 23,305 miles
Fail 20 Jul 2006 23,198 miles

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

Offside Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

How Reliable is the Rover Mini?

Based on 519,169 MOT tests across 45,631 vehicles.

66.8%
Pass Rate
876
Miles/Year
47
Year Lifespan
45,631
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 32,036
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 24,016
Steering rack gaiter split 21,375
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 18,460
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 18,348
Full Rover Mini 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

N297 CHC is a 1996 Rover Mini in Purple with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 52.6%.

Across all 1996 Rover Mini models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.1% with a typical mileage of 50,437 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 Rover Mini fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 32,036 recorded failures. If you're considering buying N297 CHC, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Rover Mini typically stays on UK roads for around 47 years. At 30 years old, this Rover Mini is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N297 CHC?

You can check the full history of N297 CHC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N297 CHC registered?

N297 CHC is a 1996 Rover Mini, first registered on 26 April 1996.

Is N297 CHC safe to buy?

The MOT history for N297 CHC shows 19 tests with a 52.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N297 CHC 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 N297 CHC. 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.