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E12 SES

1996 Lotus Elise

Red Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 May 2027
Tests24 (22 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate91.7%

Mileage

57,772 mi
Last recorded57,772 miles
Recorded on1 Jun 2026
Typical for 1996 Lotus Elise48,015 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationE12 SES
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1996
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

22 pass 2 fail
Pass 1 Jun 2026 57,772 miles
Pass 31 May 2025 56,947 miles
Pass 1 Jun 2024 56,670 miles
Pass 20 May 2023 56,367 miles
Pass 28 May 2022 56,053 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2021 55,569 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2020 54,967 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2019 53,177 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 24 Apr 2018 51,163 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2017 49,366 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 11 Apr 2016 47,952 miles
Pass 16 Apr 2015 47,153 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2014 51,592 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 26 Jun 2013 45,494 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 14 Jul 2012 44,786 miles

play in n/s rear outer tie bar bush

Pass 14 Jun 2011 43,986 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2010 43,356 miles
Pass 4 Jul 2009 42,838 miles
Fail 2 Jun 2008 42,385 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 2 Jun 2008 42,385 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 6 Jun 2007 40,751 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2006 40,111 miles
Fail 31 May 2006 40,085 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Offside Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

both front tyres are wearing low on edges of tread surface.

front number plate is not of the correct size but easily readable at correct distance.

Pass 9 Jun 2005 38,953 miles

front number plate slightly smaller than original but all equaly spaced and easily read from a distance of 20 metres.

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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E12 SES is a 1996 Lotus Elise in Red with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 91.7%.

Across all 1996 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 75.9% with a typical mileage of 48,015 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 E12 SES, 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 30 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 E12 SES?

You can check the full history of E12 SES by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E12 SES registered?

E12 SES is a 1996 Lotus Elise, first registered on 1 November 1996.

Is E12 SES safe to buy?

The MOT history for E12 SES shows 24 tests with a 91.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E12 SES 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 E12 SES. 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.