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VU03 XJP

2003 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Aug 2027
Tests21 (18 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate85.7%

Mileage

93,134 mi
Last recorded93,134 miles
Recorded on8 Aug 2026
Typical for 2003 Lotus Elise33,657 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationVU03 XJP
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year2003
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

18 pass 3 fail
Pass 8 Aug 2026 93,134 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2025 92,498 miles
Pass 8 Aug 2024 91,635 miles
Pass 14 Aug 2023 90,651 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2020 90,502 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 7 Feb 2018 86,307 miles
Pass 2 Nov 2016 84,140 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2015 78,497 miles

under trays fitted

Pass 6 Oct 2014 72,674 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2013 67,815 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2012 59,654 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2011 51,581 miles
Pass 6 Oct 2010 42,804 miles
Fail 5 Oct 2010 42,804 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 8 Oct 2009 33,571 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2008 22,945 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2008 21,734 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 22 Mar 2008 21,734 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 21 Mar 2007 18,276 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Fail 15 Jun 2006 15,291 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (hotspot upper edge above the horizontal 0% line) (1.6.D1)

Nearside Seat belt attachment fitting slightly deteriorated (5.2.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.6.D2)

Offside Inner Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Pass 15 Jun 2006 15,291 miles

Nearside Seat belt attachment fitting slightly deteriorated (5.2.3)

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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VU03 XJP is a 2003 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 85.7%.

Across all 2003 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.4% with a typical mileage of 33,657 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 VU03 XJP, 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 23 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 VU03 XJP?

You can check the full history of VU03 XJP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VU03 XJP registered?

VU03 XJP is a 2003 Lotus Elise, first registered on 15 August 2003.

Is VU03 XJP safe to buy?

The MOT history for VU03 XJP shows 21 tests with a 85.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VU03 XJP 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 VU03 XJP. 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.