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R381 BLA

1998 Lotus Elise

Silver Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 May 2027
Tests29 (21 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate72.4%

Mileage

28,034 mi
Last recorded28,034 miles
Recorded on15 May 2026
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR381 BLA
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourSilver
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

21 pass 8 fail
Pass 15 May 2026 28,034 miles

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 30 May 2025 27,604 miles
Fail 16 May 2025 27,603 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Front Registration plate insecure but not likely to fall off adhesive fixing deteriorated (0.1 (a))

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

Pass 7 Jun 2024 27,090 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 19 Jun 2023 25,960 miles

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

Pass 29 Jun 2022 25,529 miles
Fail 20 Jun 2022 25,529 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension rod ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension rod ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working reservoir is full but can't hear pump running (3.5 (a))

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

Pass 11 Jun 2021 24,682 miles
Fail 9 Jun 2021 24,682 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Front Registration plate missing (0.1 (a))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

Pass 19 Jun 2020 23,727 miles
Fail 19 Jun 2020 23,727 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 27 Jun 2019 23,518 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2018 23,201 miles
Pass 29 Jun 2017 22,950 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2016 22,711 miles
Pass 24 Jun 2015 22,122 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2014 21,768 miles

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Fail 21 Jun 2014 21,767 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 19 Jun 2013 21,398 miles

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Fail 19 Jun 2013 21,398 miles

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 11 Jun 2012 20,536 miles
Fail 3 Jun 2011 19,330 miles

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

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 3 Jun 2011 19,330 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)

Fail 22 Jun 2010 18,234 miles

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

Pass 22 Jun 2010 18,234 miles
Pass 22 Jun 2009 16,770 miles
Pass 16 Jun 2008 15,396 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2007 14,183 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2006 12,858 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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R381 BLA is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Silver with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.4%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.8% with a typical mileage of 48,523 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 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 R381 BLA, 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 28 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 R381 BLA?

You can check the full history of R381 BLA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R381 BLA registered?

R381 BLA is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 16 June 1998.

Is R381 BLA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R381 BLA shows 29 tests with a 72.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R381 BLA 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 R381 BLA. 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.