CarVerify

Free Car Check

SN04 CAV

2004 Lotus Elise

Maroon Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 May 2027
Tests24 (19 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate79.2%

Mileage

40,344 mi
Last recorded40,344 miles
Recorded on7 May 2026
Typical for 2004 Lotus Elise34,392 mi

Above 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

RegistrationSN04 CAV
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year2004
ColourMaroon
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

19 pass 5 fail
Pass 7 May 2026 40,344 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened All are corroded (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 30 Apr 2025 39,875 miles

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

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 25 Apr 2025 39,861 miles

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

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

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 28 Feb 2024 39,583 miles

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Jun 2022 37,671 miles
Fail 11 Jun 2022 37,588 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))

Fail 6 Jun 2022 37,508 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 carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

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

Pass 14 Jun 2021 36,691 miles
Pass 8 Jul 2020 35,998 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2019 35,266 miles
Pass 6 Jul 2018 34,427 miles
Pass 23 Jun 2017 33,892 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2016 33,394 miles

Engine covers and under trays fitted at time of test may be obscuring some components

Pass 24 Mar 2015 32,356 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Front wiper starting to smear the screen slightly

Nearside rear tyre has 2 mm of tread left

Offside rear tyre has 3 mm of tread left

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 14 Apr 2014 30,906 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 9 Apr 2013 30,138 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

nearside rear tyre has 3mm left across tread

offside rear tyre has 3-4 mm left across tread

Pass 30 Mar 2012 29,202 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2012 29,202 miles

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

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 7 Apr 2011 27,645 miles

Both front tyres wearing slighty on inner edge

Front discs in poor condition

Rear discs in poor condition

Pass 6 Apr 2010 26,550 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 26 Mar 2009 23,558 miles
Fail 26 Mar 2009 23,558 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Front and rear discs are in poor condition

Rear pads getting low

Pass 16 Apr 2008 21,530 miles

Both rear tyres have 4-5mm of tread left

Pass 3 Apr 2007 18,558 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

SN04 CAV is a 2004 Lotus Elise in Maroon with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 79.2%.

Across all 2004 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.9% with a typical mileage of 34,392 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 SN04 CAV, 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 22 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 SN04 CAV?

You can check the full history of SN04 CAV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SN04 CAV registered?

SN04 CAV is a 2004 Lotus Elise, first registered on 20 April 2004.

Is SN04 CAV safe to buy?

The MOT history for SN04 CAV shows 24 tests with a 79.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SN04 CAV 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 SN04 CAV. 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.