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N381 UPL

1996 Caterham Seven (S3)

Black Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Jul 2027
Tests13 (9 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate69.2%

Mileage

40,922 mi
Last recorded40,922 miles
Recorded on3 Jul 2026
Typical for 1996 Caterham Seven (S3)24,518 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Caterham
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationN381 UPL
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1996
ColourBlack
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

9 pass 4 fail
Pass 3 Jul 2026 40,922 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Side repeater insecure (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Fail 3 Jul 2026 40,922 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Side repeater insecure (4.4.1 (c) (i))

Pass 11 Apr 2025 40,806 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 8 Mar 2024 40,751 miles

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Offside and nearside worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 14 Mar 2023 39,940 miles
Fail 27 Feb 2023 39,939 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 manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 28 Apr 2017 39,588 miles

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

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

Rear slight play in rear suspension top mounts

Fail 28 Apr 2017 39,588 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Rear slight play in rear suspension top mounts

Pass 20 Jan 2009 37,968 miles
Pass 4 Apr 2008 33,451 miles

front number plate cracked

nearside rear driveshaft boot split

offside front wheel bearing slight play

offside rear driveshaft boot small hole

Pass 21 Feb 2007 30,448 miles

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

Fail 31 Mar 2006 27,603 miles

Offside Front Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Pass 31 Mar 2006 27,603 miles

How Reliable is the Caterham Seven (S3)?

Based on 32,485 MOT tests across 2,453 vehicles.

86.1%
Pass Rate
613
Miles/Year
55
Year Lifespan
2,453
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Stop lamp not working 476
Steering rack gaiter split 309
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 206
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 188
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 185
Full Caterham Seven (S3) reliability report

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N381 UPL is a 1996 Caterham Seven (S3) in Black with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.2%.

Across all 1996 Caterham Seven (S3) models, the average MOT pass rate is 86.6% with a typical mileage of 24,518 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 Caterham Seven (S3) fails its MOT is stop lamp not working, accounting for 476 recorded failures. If you're considering buying N381 UPL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Caterham Seven (S3) typically stays on UK roads for around 55 years. At 30 years old, this Caterham Seven (S3) is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N381 UPL?

You can check the full history of N381 UPL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N381 UPL registered?

N381 UPL is a 1996 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 1 March 1996.

Is N381 UPL safe to buy?

The MOT history for N381 UPL shows 13 tests with a 69.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N381 UPL 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 N381 UPL. 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.