CarVerify

Free Car Check

N981 VPA

1996 Caterham Seven (S3)

Blue Petrol 1599cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 Jul 2027
Tests11 (10 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate90.9%

Mileage

120,019 mi
Last recorded120,019 miles
Recorded on24 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
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

RegistrationN981 VPA
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1996
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,599cc

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 1 fail
Pass 24 Jul 2026 120,019 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2025 118,154 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2024 111,974 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2023 107,450 miles
Pass 6 May 2022 105,300 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2020 104,417 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2019 102,803 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2018 97,826 miles

nothing visible underside

Pass 9 Feb 2017 20,712 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2006 20,823 miles

Front indicator lenses just meet criteria in section 1.5. re. side repeater.

Front nose cone lower fastners broken.

Nearside front shock absorber has a light misting of oil.

Nearside handbrake cable not fully sercured.

No wipers/washers, fly screen fitted.

Fail 18 Apr 2006 92,281 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Headlamp aim beam image too far to the left (1.6.B4)

Offside Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Front indicator lenses just meet criteria in section 1.5.re. side repeater.

Front nose cone lower fastners broken.

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

Nearside handbrake cable not fully secured.

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

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

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

N981 VPA is a 1996 Caterham Seven (S3) in Blue with a 1,599cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90.9%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 N981 VPA, 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 N981 VPA?

You can check the full history of N981 VPA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N981 VPA registered?

N981 VPA is a 1996 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 1 April 1996.

Is N981 VPA safe to buy?

The MOT history for N981 VPA shows 11 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 N981 VPA 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 N981 VPA. 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.