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R148 VLT

1997 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 May 2027
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

80,294 mi
Last recorded80,294 miles
Recorded on5 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR148 VLT
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourBlue
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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 5 May 2026 80,294 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2025 79,638 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2024 77,843 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2023 77,442 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2022 76,932 miles
Pass 5 Mar 2021 74,583 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2019 73,644 miles

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

Pass 8 Jun 2018 73,202 miles

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

Pass 9 Jun 2017 73,011 miles

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

Pass 13 Jun 2016 72,248 miles

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

Fail 6 Jun 2016 72,186 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

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

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 12 Aug 2015 72,004 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) deteriorated, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

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

Fail 15 Aug 2014 71,615 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front position lamp(s) deteriorated, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

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

Pass 15 Aug 2014 71,615 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front position lamp(s) deteriorated, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

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

Pass 29 Jul 2013 70,338 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 6 Jul 2012 69,038 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

slight play in both rear track control arm bushes

Fail 28 Jun 2012 68,985 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

slight play in both rear track control arm bushes

Pass 19 May 2011 66,185 miles

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

Fail 14 May 2011 66,185 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Pass 28 May 2010 62,823 miles

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

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

Fail 28 May 2010 62,823 miles

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

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

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

Pass 16 Feb 2009 58,328 miles
Pass 25 Feb 2008 55,501 miles

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

Pass 13 Feb 2007 51,422 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2006 49,124 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

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R148 VLT is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

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 performed better than the average for its 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 R148 VLT, 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 R148 VLT?

You can check the full history of R148 VLT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R148 VLT registered?

R148 VLT is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 11 October 1997.

Is R148 VLT safe to buy?

The MOT history for R148 VLT shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R148 VLT 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 R148 VLT. 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.