CarVerify

Free Car Check

P381 WAA

1997 Lotus Elise

Green Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Jul 2025
Tests23 (18 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate78.3%

Mileage

136,749 mi
Last recorded136,749 miles
Recorded on10 Jul 2024
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP381 WAA
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

18 pass 5 fail
Pass 10 Jul 2024 136,749 miles

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

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

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

Pass 8 Feb 2023 136,152 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 25 Nov 2021 135,700 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 5 Nov 2021 135,700 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 carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

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

Offside Front Inner Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 10 Oct 2020 135,057 miles

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

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

Offside Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Oct 2019 134,416 miles

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

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 10 Oct 2018 133,749 miles

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

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

Offside Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Sep 2017 132,144 miles

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

Nearside Front Inner Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 6 Sep 2017 132,138 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Nearside Front Inner Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 18 Aug 2016 129,629 miles

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

Nearside Front Inner Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 24 Aug 2015 127,557 miles

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

Nearside Inner Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 7 Aug 2014 125,746 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 28 Jul 2014 125,741 miles

Dipswitch operation does not deflect all main beam headlamps to make them dipped beams (1.7.4b)

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

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

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

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

Centre Front Bonnet retaining device slightly deteriorated (8.4.2)

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

Nearside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 1 Jul 2013 120,641 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2012 106,760 miles
Fail 25 Jun 2012 106,760 miles

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

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

Pass 4 Jul 2011 93,122 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2010 80,701 miles

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

Pass 22 Jun 2009 69,809 miles
Pass 9 Jul 2008 61,439 miles
Fail 8 Jul 2008 61,411 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 10 Jul 2007 52,883 miles
Pass 1 Jul 2006 43,167 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

P381 WAA is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Green with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 78.3%.

Across all 1997 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.3% with a typical mileage of 47,496 miles. This vehicle is performing in line with others of the same year.

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 P381 WAA, 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 P381 WAA?

You can check the full history of P381 WAA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P381 WAA registered?

P381 WAA is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 18 January 1997.

Is P381 WAA safe to buy?

The MOT history for P381 WAA shows 23 tests with a 78.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P381 WAA 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 P381 WAA. 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.