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H281 DKR

1991 Lotus Elan

White Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 May 2027
Tests28 (21 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

117,184 mi
Last recorded117,184 miles
Recorded on14 Apr 2026
Typical for 1991 Lotus Elan80,091 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationH281 DKR
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1991
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc
View full Lotus Elan reliability data

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

21 pass 7 fail
Pass 14 Apr 2026 117,184 miles

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 14 Apr 2026 117,184 miles

Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 15 Apr 2025 116,814 miles

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 8 May 2024 116,297 miles

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 4 May 2023 115,868 miles

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Mar 2022 115,558 miles

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Apr 2021 115,137 miles

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 19 Feb 2021 115,136 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Pass 20 Feb 2020 114,861 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2019 113,468 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 10 Feb 2018 112,093 miles
Pass 10 Feb 2017 109,434 miles
Pass 19 Feb 2016 107,463 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

oil leak

Fail 19 Feb 2016 107,463 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

oil leak

Pass 11 Feb 2015 104,726 miles

Centre Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 19 Feb 2014 102,105 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 12 Feb 2013 98,925 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2012 96,392 miles

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

both rear tyre sidewalls perished and cracks appearing

Fail 13 Feb 2012 96,392 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

both rear tyre sidewalls perished and cracks appearing

rear exhaust clamp broken

Pass 19 Feb 2011 95,158 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 18 Feb 2010 92,491 miles
Fail 17 Feb 2010 92,491 miles

Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

Pass 20 Feb 2009 89,519 miles
Pass 29 Feb 2008 87,803 miles

UNDER VEHICLE COMPONENTS CORRODING --- AREAS OF BRAKE PIPES STARTING TO CORRODE.

Fail 29 Feb 2008 87,803 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

UNDER VEHICLE COMPONENTS CORRODING --- AREAS OF BRAKE PIPES STARTING TO CORRODE.

Pass 21 Feb 2007 84,241 miles

suspension arms corroded..metal brake pipes corroded

Pass 15 Feb 2006 82,437 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2006 82,437 miles

Front Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Nearside Front Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Rear Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

RUST ON ALL UNDER BODY COMPONENTS.

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

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H281 DKR is a 1991 Lotus Elan in White with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1991 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.1% with a typical mileage of 80,091 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 H281 DKR, 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 35 years old, this Lotus Elan is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of H281 DKR?

You can check the full history of H281 DKR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was H281 DKR registered?

H281 DKR is a 1991 Lotus Elan, first registered on 1 March 1991.

Is H281 DKR safe to buy?

The MOT history for H281 DKR shows 28 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does H281 DKR 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 H281 DKR. 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.