CarVerify

Free Car Check

P59 RMJ

1996 Lotus Elise

Green Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Jun 2027
Tests12 (9 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

41,968 mi
Last recorded41,968 miles
Recorded on2 Jun 2026
Typical for 1996 Lotus Elise48,015 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationP59 RMJ
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1996
ColourGreen
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

9 pass 3 fail
Pass 2 Jun 2026 41,968 miles
Pass 16 May 2023 41,968 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing BOTH (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing BOTH (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 19 May 2022 41,968 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play *Both fronts* (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing *All four tyres* (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 24 Nov 2021 41,968 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high dipped (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Sep 2021 41,968 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

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

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

underside covered by trays

Pass 24 Oct 2019 41,968 miles
Pass 8 Dec 2015 41,887 miles
Pass 5 Feb 2013
Pass 24 Jan 2011 2,209 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2009 2,209 miles

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

Pass 22 Jul 2008 40,300 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2006 39,677 miles

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P59 RMJ is a 1996 Lotus Elise in Green with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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

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 P59 RMJ, 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 P59 RMJ?

You can check the full history of P59 RMJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P59 RMJ registered?

P59 RMJ is a 1996 Lotus Elise, first registered on 20 December 1996.

Is P59 RMJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for P59 RMJ shows 12 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 P59 RMJ 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 P59 RMJ. 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.