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S243 LRA

1999 Lotus Elise

Red Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Apr 2027
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

26,889 mi
Last recorded26,889 miles
Recorded on28 Apr 2026
Typical for 1999 Lotus Elise46,666 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationS243 LRA
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1999
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

20 pass 12 fail
Pass 28 Apr 2026 26,889 miles

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Both ()

Pass 7 Apr 2025 26,824 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2024 26,598 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2024 26,598 miles

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

Pass 24 Apr 2023 26,329 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2022 26,238 miles
Pass 18 Mar 2021 26,184 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2020 26,051 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2019 26,009 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2018 25,816 miles
Fail 26 Mar 2018 25,813 miles

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (7.1.3)

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)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct width (6.3.4a)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Pass 13 Mar 2017 25,756 miles

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 10 Mar 2017 25,755 miles

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (7.1.3)

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 noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (7.1.4)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct stroke width (6.3.4a)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct width (6.3.4a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour SHOWS RED (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour SHOWS RED (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 11 Mar 2016 25,302 miles
Fail 10 Mar 2016 25,301 miles

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (7.1.3)

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 with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Pass 11 Mar 2015 24,883 miles
Fail 10 Mar 2015 24,883 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)

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Rear registration plate fitted to the rear does not have black characters on a yellow background (6.3.2b)

registration plate fitted to the front does not have black characters on a white background (6.3.2a)

Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Nearside Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside rear wheel bearing slightly rough

Pass 20 Dec 2013 24,412 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 19 Dec 2013 24,412 miles

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (7.1.3)

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 with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct width (6.3.4a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 14 Jan 2013 23,764 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 11 Jan 2013 23,764 miles

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)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct width (6.3.4a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Pass 4 Nov 2011 23,414 miles

Nearside Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Offside Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Fail 4 Nov 2011 23,414 miles

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Nearside Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Offside Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Pass 28 Oct 2010 22,356 miles

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

play nearside rack

play offside rack end

Fail 28 Oct 2010 22,356 miles

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (6.3.4a)

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct width (6.3.4a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f) DANGEROUS

Nearside Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Offside Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

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

Pass 30 Sep 2009 21,746 miles
Fail 30 Sep 2009

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 30 Oct 2008 21,116 miles
Fail 30 Oct 2008 21,116 miles

Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 25 Sep 2007 20,278 miles

slight play in steering rack

slight play nearside front upper wishbone bushes

Pass 9 Oct 2006 19,082 miles
Fail 9 Oct 2006 19,082 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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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S243 LRA is a 1999 Lotus Elise in Red with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 1999 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.1% with a typical mileage of 46,666 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 S243 LRA, 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 27 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 S243 LRA?

You can check the full history of S243 LRA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S243 LRA registered?

S243 LRA is a 1999 Lotus Elise, first registered on 26 January 1999.

Is S243 LRA safe to buy?

The MOT history for S243 LRA shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S243 LRA 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 S243 LRA. 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.