CarVerify

Free Car Check

R45 RBD

1998 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 1998cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Apr 2027
Tests23 (17 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate73.9%

Mileage

61,048 mi
Last recorded61,048 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 2026
Typical for 1998 Lotus Esprit48,579 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
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

RegistrationR45 RBD
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,998cc
View full Lotus Esprit reliability data

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

17 pass 6 fail
Pass 8 Apr 2026 61,048 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 7 Apr 2025 60,613 miles
Pass 4 Apr 2024 60,302 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2024 60,300 miles

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

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.1.1 (a))

Pass 27 Feb 2023 59,946 miles
Pass 22 Feb 2022 59,616 miles
Pass 24 Feb 2021 59,191 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2019 58,890 miles

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

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

Fail 15 Jul 2019 58,881 miles

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

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

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.2.1 (a))

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

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

Pass 6 Jul 2018 57,538 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 10 Apr 2017 54,786 miles
Fail 5 Apr 2017 54,782 miles

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' cameras (8.3.1b)

Pass 8 Apr 2016 52,385 miles
Fail 1 Apr 2016 52,385 miles

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

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

Pass 19 Jan 2015 49,520 miles
Pass 20 May 2014 48,860 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2014 48,860 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly damaged (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly damaged (3.6.B.4d)

Fail 20 Sep 2013 48,868 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Pass 13 Nov 2012 48,765 miles

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

Nearside Outer Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.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)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

offside front inner tyre wall cracking

Pass 22 Nov 2011 48,397 miles

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

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

headlamp aims just within limits

nearside front tyre wearing slightly on inner edge and cracked on outer edge

Pass 24 Nov 2010 47,404 miles

all front and rear suspention components corroded

Pass 27 Oct 2009 45,964 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

dipped beam reflectors corroding

Pass 2 Oct 2006 38,653 miles

brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

How Reliable is the Lotus Esprit?

Based on 25,410 MOT tests across 2,324 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
515
Miles/Year
50
Year Lifespan
2,324
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 624
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 464
brake binding 455
parking brake recording little or no effort 332
Headlamp aim too low 326
Full Lotus Esprit 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

R45 RBD is a 1998 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 1,998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.9%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 85.0% with a typical mileage of 48,579 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 Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R45 RBD, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Esprit typically stays on UK roads for around 50 years. At 28 years old, this Lotus Esprit is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R45 RBD?

You can check the full history of R45 RBD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R45 RBD registered?

R45 RBD is a 1998 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 12 March 1998.

Is R45 RBD safe to buy?

The MOT history for R45 RBD shows 23 tests with a 73.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R45 RBD 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 R45 RBD. 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.