CarVerify

Free Car Check

R741 KDF

1998 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Aug 2027
Tests22 (15 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate68.2%

Mileage

35,788 mi
Last recorded35,788 miles
Recorded on6 Aug 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

RegistrationR741 KDF
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourBlue
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

15 pass 7 fail
Pass 6 Aug 2026 35,788 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2025 35,750 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2024 35,658 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2022 35,473 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2021 35,308 miles
Fail 21 Jul 2021 35,308 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 hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 16 Jul 2020 35,238 miles
Pass 1 Jul 2019 35,183 miles
Pass 19 Jun 2018 34,882 miles
Fail 19 Jun 2018 34,881 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))

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

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Pass 23 Jun 2017 34,667 miles
Fail 21 Jun 2017 34,667 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Pass 15 Jun 2016 34,496 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2015 33,986 miles
Fail 9 Jun 2015 33,986 miles

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

Pass 25 Jun 2014 33,198 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2014 33,197 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

Pass 13 Jun 2009 30,180 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside front door mirror not fitted from factory.

Steering column top bearing slightly worn (2.1.2c)

Pass 8 Feb 2008 19,678 miles

front end damage.

Fail 30 Jan 2008 19,677 miles

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (8.4.1)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage insecure (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

front end damage.

Pass 31 May 2006 16,354 miles
Fail 30 May 2006 16,354 miles

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

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

R741 KDF is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.2%.

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 R741 KDF, 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 R741 KDF?

You can check the full history of R741 KDF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R741 KDF registered?

R741 KDF is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 19 January 1998.

Is R741 KDF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R741 KDF shows 22 tests with a 68.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R741 KDF 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 R741 KDF. 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.