CarVerify

Free Car Check

R251 BGY

1997 Caterham Seven

Yellow Petrol 1588cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Jul 2027
Tests22 (16 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate72.7%

Mileage

82,070 mi
Last recorded82,070 miles
Recorded on25 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 Caterham Seven18,790 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR251 BGY
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven
Year1997
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc

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

16 pass 6 fail
Pass 25 Jun 2026 82,070 miles
Pass 4 Jul 2025 81,782 miles
Pass 10 May 2024 81,519 miles
Fail 10 May 2024 81,519 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm insecurely attached (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Aug 2022 80,877 miles
Fail 15 Jul 2022 80,841 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Pass 12 May 2021 80,138 miles

Offside Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel inner tie rod (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 26 Apr 2021 80,134 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel inner tie rod (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Jun 2017 78,205 miles

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

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

Pass 26 Apr 2016 75,374 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 7 May 2015 73,632 miles

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

both front tyres wearing low on inner edges

Fail 30 Apr 2015 73,612 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)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

slight play in nearside front top ball joint

Pass 12 May 2014 72,597 miles

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 16 Apr 2013 70,098 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 15 Nov 2011 68,357 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

o/s rack arm

Pass 7 Sep 2010 64,548 miles

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 21 May 2009 60,780 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2008 56,563 miles

Oil leak

Fail 1 Apr 2008 56,562 miles

Nearside Rear Sub-frame cracked (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter insecure (2.2.D.2d)

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

Offside Steering rack gaiter insecure (2.2.D.2d)

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

Oil leak

Pass 15 Mar 2007 53,165 miles
Fail 12 Mar 2007 53,165 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 28 Feb 2006 47,579 miles

How Reliable is the Caterham Seven?

Based on 6,710 MOT tests across 537 vehicles.

87.5%
Pass Rate
616
Miles/Year
55
Year Lifespan
537
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Stop lamp not working 84
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 47
Steering rack gaiter split 42
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 32
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 32
Full Caterham Seven 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

R251 BGY is a 1997 Caterham Seven in Yellow with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.7%.

Across all 1997 Caterham Seven models, the average MOT pass rate is 87.2% with a typical mileage of 18,790 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 fails its MOT is stop lamp not working, accounting for 84 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R251 BGY, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Caterham Seven typically stays on UK roads for around 55 years. At 29 years old, this Caterham Seven is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R251 BGY?

You can check the full history of R251 BGY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R251 BGY registered?

R251 BGY is a 1997 Caterham Seven, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R251 BGY safe to buy?

The MOT history for R251 BGY shows 22 tests with a 72.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R251 BGY 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 R251 BGY. 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.