CarVerify

Free Car Check

R22 MAT

1997 Lotus Esprit

Blue Petrol 1974cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Oct 2026
Tests15 (13 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate86.7%

Mileage

37,316 mi
Last recorded37,316 miles
Recorded on3 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Lotus Esprit46,303 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

RegistrationR22 MAT
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,974cc

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

13 pass 2 fail
Pass 3 Oct 2025 37,316 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2024 35,591 miles
Pass 29 Nov 2021 35,511 miles
Fail 16 Jul 2021 35,491 miles

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.1.1 (b))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure cracking (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Pass 31 May 2018 35,482 miles

Front no plate faded

Pass 23 Dec 2016 35,352 miles
Pass 26 May 2015 35,344 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 29 Apr 2014 35,227 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Fail 29 Apr 2014 35,227 miles

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Pass 18 May 2013 34,875 miles
Pass 22 May 2012 34,691 miles
Pass 10 May 2011 34,130 miles

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 27 May 2010 33,721 miles

all coil springs showing signs of corrosion

engine has various oil leaks

front and rear brake discs slightly corroded

n/s/r brake pipe surface corroded

o/s/r brake pipe between flexi hoses corroded not to excess reccomend replace

vehicle has been standing possibly contributing to corrosion

Pass 1 Apr 2009 33,102 miles

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 4 Apr 2008 31,475 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

R22 MAT is a 1997 Lotus Esprit in Blue with a 1,974cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 86.7%.

Across all 1997 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.4% with a typical mileage of 46,303 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 R22 MAT, 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 29 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 R22 MAT?

You can check the full history of R22 MAT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R22 MAT registered?

R22 MAT is a 1997 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 10 December 1997.

Is R22 MAT safe to buy?

The MOT history for R22 MAT shows 15 tests with a 86.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R22 MAT 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 R22 MAT. 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.