CarVerify

Free Car Check

P555 SSE

1997 Caterham Seven (S3)

Green Petrol 1600cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 May 2027
Tests14 (10 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

Typical for 1997 Caterham Seven (S3)20,400 mi
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

RegistrationP555 SSE
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,600cc

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 4 fail
Pass 29 May 2026
Pass 10 Aug 2024 1,500 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2014

slight vertical lift n/s/f lower ball joint

Pass 22 Jun 2013
Pass 15 Jun 2012 26,500 miles

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

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 8 Jun 2011 24,954 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

Fail 3 Jun 2011 24,950 miles

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

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

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Pass 7 May 2010 23,996 miles

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

n/s/f rack boot perished

Fail 7 May 2010 23,996 miles

Nearside Front Side repeater missing (1.4.A.2b)

Offside Front Side repeater missing (1.4.A.2b)

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

n/s/f rack boot perished

Pass 4 Jun 2009 21,776 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Pass 9 May 2008 20,707 miles

Centre Steering arm deformed but serviceable (2.2.C.1d)

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

Fail 9 May 2008 20,707 miles

Nearside Rear Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Front Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Offside Rear Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Centre Steering arm deformed but serviceable (2.2.C.1d)

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

Pass 23 May 2007 20,227 miles
Fail 16 May 2007 20,226 miles

Fuel system component leaking (7.2.3)

Nearside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part (3.6.B.4a)

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

P555 SSE is a 1997 Caterham Seven (S3) in Green with a 1,600cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1997 Caterham Seven (S3) models, the average MOT pass rate is 86.2% with a typical mileage of 20,400 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 P555 SSE, 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 29 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 P555 SSE?

You can check the full history of P555 SSE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P555 SSE registered?

P555 SSE is a 1997 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P555 SSE safe to buy?

The MOT history for P555 SSE shows 14 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P555 SSE 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 P555 SSE. 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.