CarVerify

Free Car Check

P123 OSF

1997 Lotus Elise

Red Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 May 2027
Tests29 (21 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate72.4%

Mileage

58,303 mi
Last recorded58,303 miles
Recorded on5 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 mi

Above 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

RegistrationP123 OSF
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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

21 pass 8 fail
Pass 5 May 2026 58,303 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2025 57,817 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 7 May 2024 57,349 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 205/50/16 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 2 May 2023 56,533 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2022 56,112 miles
Fail 12 Apr 2022 56,112 miles

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 10 May 2021 55,328 miles

Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Fail 5 May 2021 55,322 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Pass 11 Mar 2020 54,650 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2019 53,358 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Flexi Pipe (6.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 2 Apr 2018 51,790 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2017 47,872 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2016 41,951 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2016 41,951 miles

Nearside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 16 Mar 2015 41,068 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Fail 16 Mar 2015 41,068 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Pass 13 Mar 2014 41,012 miles
Pass 22 Jan 2013 36,081 miles
Fail 16 Jan 2013 36,081 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

Pass 17 Jan 2012 31,154 miles
Fail 17 Jan 2012 31,154 miles

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

Pass 18 Jan 2011 26,563 miles
Fail 18 Jan 2011 26,563 miles

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 19 Jan 2010 22,984 miles
Pass 9 Jan 2009 20,344 miles
Fail 19 Dec 2008 20,340 miles

An item not tested (Manual)

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

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Dust caps missing from wheel valves

Offside rear shocky slightly damp

Pass 21 Dec 2007 16,697 miles
Pass 15 Dec 2006 11,614 miles
Pass 21 Dec 2005 7,210 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Elise?

Based on 150,954 MOT tests across 12,302 vehicles.

81.8%
Pass Rate
1,309
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
12,302
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 3,173
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3,131
Headlamp aim too high 3,014
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 2,630
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 1,898
Full Lotus Elise 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

P123 OSF is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Red with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.4%.

Across all 1997 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.3% with a typical mileage of 47,496 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 Lotus Elise fails its MOT is exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, accounting for 3,173 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P123 OSF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elise typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 29 years old, this Lotus Elise is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P123 OSF?

You can check the full history of P123 OSF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P123 OSF registered?

P123 OSF is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 21 March 1997.

Is P123 OSF safe to buy?

The MOT history for P123 OSF shows 29 tests with a 72.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P123 OSF 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 P123 OSF. 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.