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L5 TUV

1996 Lotus Esprit

Blue Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 May 2027
Tests16 (13 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate81.3%

Mileage

27,846 mi
Last recorded27,846 miles
Recorded on27 May 2026
Typical for 1996 Lotus Esprit48,465 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationL5 TUV
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1996
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,506cc

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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

13 pass 3 fail
Pass 27 May 2026 27,846 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 30 May 2025 27,570 miles

Coil spring corroded all coil springs (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 26 Jan 2024 27,433 miles

Coil spring corroded All springs corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 16 Sep 2019 27,148 miles
Fail 16 Sep 2019 27,148 miles

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 13 Aug 2018 26,133 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2016 26,105 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2015 25,938 miles
Pass 1 Oct 2014 25,854 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 23 Aug 2013 25,817 miles

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Pass 23 Aug 2013 25,817 miles

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

Pass 23 Aug 2012 25,681 miles

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

Pass 28 May 2008 25,268 miles

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

Pass 19 May 2007 24,185 miles
Pass 20 May 2006 23,398 miles
Fail 20 May 2006 23,398 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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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L5 TUV is a 1996 Lotus Esprit in Blue with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.3%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 L5 TUV, 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 L5 TUV?

You can check the full history of L5 TUV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L5 TUV registered?

L5 TUV is a 1996 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 18 October 1996.

Is L5 TUV safe to buy?

The MOT history for L5 TUV shows 16 tests with a 81.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L5 TUV 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 L5 TUV. 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.