CarVerify

Free Car Check

P5 RFB

1996 Caterham Seven (S3)

Yellow Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Aug 2025
Tests17 (15 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate88.2%

Mileage

18,987 mi
Last recorded18,987 miles
Recorded on12 Aug 2024
Typical for 1996 Caterham Seven (S3)24,518 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationP5 RFB
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1996
ColourYellow
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

15 pass 2 fail
Pass 12 Aug 2024 18,987 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Nov 2022 18,775 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2019 18,489 miles

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 205-60-13 (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 21 Apr 2018 18,310 miles

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 25 Mar 2017 18,038 miles

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

Fail 25 Mar 2017 18,038 miles

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

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

Pass 9 Apr 2016 17,602 miles

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

Offside Rear Brake cable has wires broken but is not significantly weakened (3.5.1b)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

slight oil leak

Pass 18 Apr 2015 17,173 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Rear Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 30 May 2014 16,700 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear Tie bar/rod slightly distorted (2.4.G.1)

Pass 26 Apr 2013 16,475 miles
Pass 2 May 2012 15,704 miles
Fail 2 May 2012 15,704 miles

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

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

Pass 4 Dec 2009 15,013 miles

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

washers n/a

windscreen not fitted

wipers n/a

Pass 26 Mar 2009 14,410 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2007 12,982 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2006 11,373 miles

both rear shock absorbers damp

exhaust emissions checked as Amateur Built vehicle - visual smoke check only

movement in steering wheel.secure-quick release wheel fitted

n/s & o/s parking brake efforts low

o/s/f position lamp 'dim'

wipers smearing screen

Pass 15 Sep 2005 8,304 miles

Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

P5 RFB is a 1996 Caterham Seven (S3) in Yellow with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 88.2%.

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 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 P5 RFB, 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 P5 RFB?

You can check the full history of P5 RFB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P5 RFB registered?

P5 RFB is a 1996 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is P5 RFB safe to buy?

The MOT history for P5 RFB shows 17 tests with a 88.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P5 RFB 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 P5 RFB. 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.