CarVerify

Free Car Check

R78 AVR

1998 Lotus Elise

Black Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 May 2027
Tests27 (21 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

126,823 mi
Last recorded126,823 miles
Recorded on27 May 2026
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR78 AVR
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourBlack
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

21 pass 6 fail
Pass 27 May 2026 126,823 miles
Fail 15 Apr 2026 126,770 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

Pass 11 Apr 2025 124,274 miles

Rear Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin BOTH SIDES (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 17 Apr 2024 123,848 miles
Fail 15 Dec 2023 123,739 miles

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

Pass 15 Nov 2022 121,783 miles
Pass 1 Nov 2021 120,205 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2020 117,216 miles
Pass 24 Oct 2019 114,193 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2018 111,563 miles

advice rear brake pipes starting to corrode

Pass 23 Oct 2017 109,630 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2016 107,418 miles
Pass 7 Nov 2015 104,524 miles

Centre Stop lamp has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.2.1b)

small chip in windscreen

Pass 15 Nov 2014 101,726 miles

Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Nearside Rear rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Offside rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

battery slightly loose,but boxed in

Fail 10 Nov 2014 101,659 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Nearside Rear rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Offside rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

battery slightly loose,but boxed in

Pass 7 Dec 2013 98,796 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 5 Nov 2012 95,738 miles

slight bulkhead flex

Pass 11 Nov 2011 91,755 miles

Inner Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

both n/s tyres feathering

front brake discs pitted

n/s/f tyre close to body when on full left steering lock

windscreen wiper slightly smeary

Pass 27 Nov 2010 88,173 miles

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

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

Nearside front brake disc is lightel scorred on the outer edge !

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

oil & coolant level's low !

Pass 11 Nov 2009 84,346 miles

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

Pass 1 Dec 2008 79,583 miles
Fail 17 Nov 2008 79,475 miles

Front registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Nearside Rear rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 6 Nov 2007 70,324 miles

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

front brake pads wearing thin

Fail 6 Nov 2007 70,324 miles

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

front brake pads wearing thin

Pass 4 Dec 2006 62,576 miles
Pass 3 Dec 2005 55,780 miles
Fail 29 Nov 2005 55,780 miles

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

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

slight play in both rear track rod ends

slight play in near side front bearing

slight play in near side rack

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

R78 AVR is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Black with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 R78 AVR, 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 R78 AVR?

You can check the full history of R78 AVR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R78 AVR registered?

R78 AVR is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 6 March 1998.

Is R78 AVR safe to buy?

The MOT history for R78 AVR shows 27 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R78 AVR 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 R78 AVR. 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.