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R711 CAY

1998 Lotus Elise

Silver Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Jul 2027
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

80,802 mi
Last recorded80,802 miles
Recorded on24 Jul 2026
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR711 CAY
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

17 pass 8 fail
Pass 24 Jul 2026 80,802 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective Headlamp cracked (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 22 Jul 2026 80,715 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim unable to be tested (4.1.2 (b))

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim unable to be tested (4.1.2 (b))

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

Nearside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective Headlamp cracked (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 15 Nov 2024 78,322 miles

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Nearside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective Headlamp cracked (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Fail 13 Nov 2024 78,257 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 8 Sep 2023 75,834 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 23 Aug 2023 75,337 miles

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 1 Sep 2022 74,589 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 22 Sep 2021 71,625 miles
Fail 14 Sep 2021 71,543 miles

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

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

Pass 9 Sep 2020 69,632 miles

Nearside Rear Brake cable damaged but not to excess Cable Frayed. (1.1.15 (a))

Pass 23 Aug 2019 68,317 miles
Fail 22 Aug 2019 68,304 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Pass 6 Sep 2018 65,382 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2017 63,692 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2016 61,313 miles

Under shields fitted to underbody

Fail 10 Oct 2016 61,313 miles

Under shields fitted to underbody

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 1 Oct 2015 59,441 miles

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

Fail 29 Sep 2015 59,436 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Pass 3 Oct 2014 55,950 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2013 54,967 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2012 53,692 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 9 Dec 2008 53,497 miles

all brake hose ferrules slightly corroded.

Fail 8 Dec 2008 53,497 miles

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

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

all brake hose ferrules slightly corroded.

Pass 28 Nov 2007 50,571 miles
Pass 29 Nov 2006 45,972 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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R711 CAY is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Silver with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

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 R711 CAY, 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 R711 CAY?

You can check the full history of R711 CAY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R711 CAY registered?

R711 CAY is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 9 June 1998.

Is R711 CAY safe to buy?

The MOT history for R711 CAY shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R711 CAY 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 R711 CAY. 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.