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RX54 HCL

2005 Lotus Elise

Red Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Feb 2027
Tests23 (17 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate73.9%

Mileage

48,505 mi
Last recorded48,505 miles
Recorded on4 Feb 2026
Typical for 2005 Lotus Elise31,970 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationRX54 HCL
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year2005
ColourRed
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 6 fail
Pass 4 Feb 2026 48,505 miles

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened nearside and offside front (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened nearside and offside front (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened nearside and offside rear (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened nearside and offside rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 4 Feb 2026 48,505 miles

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened nearside and offside front (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened nearside and offside front (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened nearside and offside rear (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened nearside and offside rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 21 Jan 2025 48,494 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 29 Nov 2023 47,649 miles
Fail 1 Nov 2023 47,633 miles

Access panel cannot be secured in the closed position front access panels do not open. (6.2.1 (e))

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 3 Oct 2022 41,564 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2021 38,441 miles
Fail 23 Sep 2021 38,441 miles

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

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

Pass 24 Sep 2020 35,652 miles

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

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

Fail 7 Sep 2020 35,639 miles

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

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 1 May 2019 32,442 miles
Pass 11 May 2018 28,117 miles
Fail 11 May 2018 28,115 miles

Rear Registration plate lamp not working both...... (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 12 May 2017 22,959 miles
Pass 10 May 2016 22,458 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 15 May 2015 19,964 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 3 Jul 2014 18,830 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 22 Mar 2013 18,342 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2012 17,573 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2011 16,254 miles

Coolant leak

Pass 30 Mar 2010 15,410 miles

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Pass 2 Apr 2009 13,166 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2008 10,818 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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RX54 HCL is a 2005 Lotus Elise in Red with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.9%.

Across all 2005 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 84.7% with a typical mileage of 31,970 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 RX54 HCL, 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 21 years old, this Lotus Elise is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of RX54 HCL?

You can check the full history of RX54 HCL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was RX54 HCL registered?

RX54 HCL is a 2005 Lotus Elise, first registered on 13 January 2005.

Is RX54 HCL safe to buy?

The MOT history for RX54 HCL shows 23 tests with a 73.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does RX54 HCL 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 RX54 HCL. 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.