CarVerify

Free Car Check

YWR 218L

1973 Lotus Elan

Yellow Petrol 1588cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Feb 2027
Tests11 (8 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate72.7%

Mileage

63,230 mi
Last recorded63,230 miles
Recorded on12 Feb 2026
Typical for 1973 Lotus Elan50,618 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

RegistrationYWR 218L
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1973
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc

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

8 pass 3 fail
Pass 12 Feb 2026 63,230 miles
Fail 12 Feb 2026 63,230 miles

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 17 Jan 2025 63,190 miles
Pass 16 Jun 2022 61,979 miles
Pass 16 Jun 2021 61,134 miles
Pass 2 May 2019 60,534 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2018 60,382 miles
Pass 14 Jul 2016 59,697 miles
Fail 13 Jul 2016 59,697 miles

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Steering system fouling on the handbrake cable (2.2.D.2a)

Pass 17 Jul 2015 59,207 miles

repair to offside sill

slight play in steering colum

Fail 8 Jul 2015 59,207 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Bonnet retaining device slightly deteriorated (8.4.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

repair to offside sill

slight play in steering colum

How Reliable is the Lotus Elan?

Based on 51,097 MOT tests across 4,280 vehicles.

77.4%
Pass Rate
554
Miles/Year
59
Year Lifespan
4,280
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,585
brake recording little or no effort 1,342
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,318
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 927
brake binding 845
Full Lotus Elan 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

YWR 218L is a 1973 Lotus Elan in Yellow with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 11 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.7%.

Across all 1973 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.2% with a typical mileage of 50,618 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 Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying YWR 218L, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elan typically stays on UK roads for around 59 years. At 53 years old, this Lotus Elan is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of YWR 218L?

You can check the full history of YWR 218L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was YWR 218L registered?

YWR 218L is a 1973 Lotus Elan, first registered on 11 June 1973.

Is YWR 218L safe to buy?

The MOT history for YWR 218L shows 11 tests with a 72.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does YWR 218L 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 YWR 218L. 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.