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R581 LAU

1997 Rover Mini

Red Petrol 1275cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Nov 2026
Tests28 (16 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

62,764 mi
Last recorded62,764 miles
Recorded on23 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Rover Mini51,557 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR581 LAU
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1997
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,275cc

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 12 fail
Pass 23 Oct 2025 62,764 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2024 62,071 miles
Fail 16 Oct 2024 62,031 miles

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 24 Oct 2023 61,628 miles
Fail 17 Oct 2023 61,625 miles

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 8 Oct 2022 61,116 miles
Fail 8 Oct 2022 61,110 miles

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

Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 5 Nov 2021 60,602 miles

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material offside and nearside (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 30 Oct 2021 60,601 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material offside and nearside (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 3 Nov 2020 59,918 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear brake pipe (1.1.11 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 27 Oct 2020 59,918 miles

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear brake pipe (1.1.11 (c))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Apr 2019 58,868 miles
Pass 3 May 2018 58,174 miles
Fail 2 May 2018 58,173 miles

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 rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 29 Apr 2017 57,618 miles

Oil leak ()

Pass 29 Mar 2016 57,121 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2015 56,492 miles
Pass 22 Feb 2014 55,706 miles
Fail 18 Jan 2014 55,701 miles

Nearside Rear Brake clevis joint locking device missing (3.5.1l)

Nearside Upper Front suspension retaining device ineffective (2.5.A.4)

Offside Rear Brake clevis joint locking device missing (3.5.1l)

Offside Upper Front suspension retaining device ineffective (2.5.A.4)

Fail 18 Apr 2011 55,688 miles

Nearside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Front Sub-frame attachment rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Front Sub-frame attachment rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Rear Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

rear skirt corroded

Pass 19 May 2009 49,128 miles

Offside Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Fail 18 May 2009 49,128 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Offside Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Pass 20 May 2008 45,017 miles
Fail 12 May 2008 45,016 miles

Nearside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

Nearside Front Sub-frame attachment rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

Offside Front Sub-frame attachment rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 14 May 2007 41,243 miles
Fail 14 May 2007 41,243 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 16 May 2006 38,331 miles
Fail 11 May 2006 38,331 miles

Nearside Front Sub-frame rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod severely distorted (2.4.G.1)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Front Tie bar/rod severely distorted (2.4.G.1)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

How Reliable is the Rover Mini?

Based on 519,169 MOT tests across 45,631 vehicles.

66.8%
Pass Rate
876
Miles/Year
47
Year Lifespan
45,631
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 32,036
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 24,016
Steering rack gaiter split 21,375
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 18,460
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 18,348
Full Rover Mini 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.

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R581 LAU is a 1997 Rover Mini in Red with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

Across all 1997 Rover Mini models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.4% with a typical mileage of 51,557 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 Rover Mini fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 32,036 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R581 LAU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Rover Mini typically stays on UK roads for around 47 years. At 29 years old, this Rover Mini is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R581 LAU?

You can check the full history of R581 LAU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R581 LAU registered?

R581 LAU is a 1997 Rover Mini, first registered on 2 August 1997.

Is R581 LAU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R581 LAU shows 28 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R581 LAU 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 R581 LAU. 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.