Lotus Elise MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Lotus Elise. Check any Elise by registration number below.

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90.5%

Avg Pass Rate

+1.0%

vs Lotus Avg

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

Lotus Elise — MOT Reliability Overview

The Lotus Elise has an average MOT pass rate of 90.5%, which is 1.0 percentage points above the Lotus brand average of 89.5%. This is a strong result, indicating that the Elise is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a Lotus Elise fails its MOT are number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. If you are preparing your Elise for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Lotus Elise, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Lotus Elise performs at MOT across different model years.

2021

Based on 98 vehicles

98.0%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

2.1%

Mileage at 3yr

11k mi

2020

Based on 195 vehicles

94.9%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

1.6%

Mileage at 3yr

11k mi

Mileage at 5yr

15k mi

2019

Based on 263 vehicles

95.8%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

4.3%

Mileage at 5yr

16k mi

2018

Based on 198 vehicles

89.9%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

7.8%

Mileage at 5yr

21k mi

2017

Based on 235 vehicles

94.9%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.7%

Retest Rate

8.1%

Mileage at 5yr

23k mi

2016

Based on 263 vehicles

93.9%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

1.8%

Retest Rate

8.9%

2015

Based on 290 vehicles

97.6%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.5%

Retest Rate

2.6%

Mileage at 10yr

22k mi

2014

Based on 240 vehicles

91.3%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

1.3%

Retest Rate

9.7%

Mileage at 10yr

47k mi

2013

Based on 153 vehicles

91.5%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

5.7%

Mileage at 10yr

53k mi

2012

Based on 52 vehicles

96.2%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

3.6%

2011

Based on 120 vehicles

87.5%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

11.7%

2010

Based on 267 vehicles

89.1%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

1.2%

Retest Rate

13.5%

2009

Based on 246 vehicles

93.1%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

3.9%

2008

Based on 412 vehicles

89.3%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.9%

Retest Rate

7.7%

2007

Based on 579 vehicles

89.5%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

9.8%

2006

Based on 630 vehicles

87.8%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

1.2%

Retest Rate

8.4%

2005

Based on 599 vehicles

92.0%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.6%

Retest Rate

7.4%

2004

Based on 648 vehicles

87.8%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

1.0%

Retest Rate

11.6%

2003

Based on 773 vehicles

88.6%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.8%

Retest Rate

7.5%

2002

Based on 1,093 vehicles

88.0%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

1.9%

Retest Rate

8.3%

2001

Based on 678 vehicles

89.8%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

2.2%

Retest Rate

6.0%

2000

Based on 1,238 vehicles

85.1%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

1.4%

Retest Rate

13.2%

1999

Based on 2,224 vehicles

87.3%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.8%

Retest Rate

9.1%

1998

Based on 2,297 vehicles

83.9%Good

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.9%

Retest Rate

11.7%

1997

Based on 774 vehicles

83.1%Good

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

2.0%

Retest Rate

16.5%

1996

Based on 103 vehicles

89.3%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

8.1%

0

Based on 5,576 vehicles

88.0%Excellent

Lotus average: 89.5%

Mileage at 5yr

49k mi

Top MOT Failures — Lotus Elise

The most common reasons a Lotus Elise fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements

2.1%

Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

1.9%

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

1.7%

Stop lamps all missing or inoperative

1.7%

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

1.5%

Lotus Elise Common Faults & Repair Costs

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Nearside

2.0%

Front

1.0%

Rear Nearside

1.0%

Other Lotus Models

Compare MOT reliability across Lotus models.

Lotus Evora

92.8% pass rate

Lotus Evora S

89.3% pass rate

Lotus Elan +2

89.5% pass rate

Lotus Esprit

88.7% pass rate

Lotus Exige

94.6% pass rate

Lotus Evora 4 V6

92.0% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Lotus Elise

Lotus Elise — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Lotus Elise MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Lotus Elise?

The average MOT pass rate for the Lotus Elise is 90.5% compared to the Lotus average of 89.5%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Lotus Elise?

The most common MOT failures on the Lotus Elise are: Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements (2.1%), Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer (1.9%), A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (1.7%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Lotus Elise reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 90.5%, the Lotus Elise is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Lotus Elise?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Lotus Elise?

Typical mileage for the Lotus Elise: 10,715 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Elise to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Lotus Elise's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.