CarVerify

Free Car Check

R717 RSA

1998 Lotus Elise

Green Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Apr 2027
Tests11 (10 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate90.9%

Mileage

26,612 mi
Last recorded26,612 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 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
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

RegistrationR717 RSA
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourGreen
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

10 pass 1 fail
Pass 8 Apr 2026 26,612 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 28 Nov 2024 25,976 miles

Chip in windscreen

Pass 20 May 2014 24,852 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 14 May 2013 23,193 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2011 21,971 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2010 21,749 miles
Pass 28 Aug 2009 19,997 miles
Fail 13 Aug 2009 19,997 miles

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

passenger door does not latch securely closed (6.2.B.1a)

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 3 Jul 2008 19,272 miles

front reg plate cracked

play on both front roll bar links

underside of car cannot be checked due to covers

Pass 9 May 2007 17,869 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2006 16,708 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

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

R717 RSA is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Green with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90.9%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 R717 RSA, 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 R717 RSA?

You can check the full history of R717 RSA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R717 RSA registered?

R717 RSA is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 28 May 1998.

Is R717 RSA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R717 RSA shows 11 tests with a 90.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R717 RSA 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 R717 RSA. 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.