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L4 OTU

1996 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 May 2027
Tests20 (19 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate95%

Mileage

40,960 mi
Last recorded40,960 miles
Recorded on11 May 2026
Typical for 1996 Lotus Esprit48,465 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationL4 OTU
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1996
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

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

19 pass 1 fail
Pass 11 May 2026 40,960 miles
Pass 12 May 2025 40,723 miles
Pass 9 May 2024 39,976 miles
Pass 18 May 2023 39,767 miles
Pass 23 May 2022 39,664 miles
Pass 26 May 2021 39,459 miles
Pass 21 May 2019 39,327 miles
Pass 9 May 2018 39,083 miles
Pass 16 May 2017 38,955 miles
Pass 17 May 2016 38,506 miles
Pass 28 May 2015 37,965 miles
Fail 27 May 2015 37,965 miles

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

Pass 12 May 2014 37,538 miles
Pass 16 May 2013 37,252 miles
Pass 28 May 2012 36,678 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2010 36,131 miles
Pass 25 Aug 2009 35,547 miles

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

Pass 22 Aug 2008 34,311 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2007 33,806 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2006 32,547 miles

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

How Reliable is the Lotus Esprit?

Based on 25,410 MOT tests across 2,324 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
515
Miles/Year
50
Year Lifespan
2,324
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 624
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 464
brake binding 455
parking brake recording little or no effort 332
Headlamp aim too low 326
Full Lotus Esprit reliability report

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L4 OTU is a 1996 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 95%.

Across all 1996 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.8% with a typical mileage of 48,465 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Lotus Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying L4 OTU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Esprit typically stays on UK roads for around 50 years. At 30 years old, this Lotus Esprit is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of L4 OTU?

You can check the full history of L4 OTU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L4 OTU registered?

L4 OTU is a 1996 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 11 January 1996.

Is L4 OTU safe to buy?

The MOT history for L4 OTU shows 20 tests with a 95% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L4 OTU 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 L4 OTU. 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.