Car statistics
Lotus Elan statistics
How many Lotus Elans are still on the road in Great Britain, how many are declared off the road, how new registrations have changed and which fuels they use. Built from DVLA licensing records and 1,356 DVSA MOT tests.
- Licensed in Great Britain 2,486 −2.9% on a year earlier
- Declared SORN 2,080 Off the road, not taxed
- MOT first-time pass rate, 2025 78.4% Cars of the same ages 61.1%
- Rank by number licensed No. 525 of 1,159 models we cover
- Peak year 1998 3,494 licensed
- Average annual mileage 875 miles a year
How many Lotus Elans are left in Great Britain?
There were 2,486 Lotus Elans licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 2,080 declared off the road (SORN). That is 28.8% fewer than the peak of 3,494 in 1998.
Lotus Elans licensed in Great Britain
The highest year-end count was 3,494 in 1998.
| Year | Licensed |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 2,721 |
| 1995 | 2,898 |
| 1996 | 3,338 |
| 1997 | 3,362 |
| 1998 | 3,494 |
| 1999 | 3,464 |
| 2000 | 3,356 |
| 2001 | 3,312 |
| 2002 | 3,253 |
| 2003 | 3,152 |
| 2004 | 3,163 |
| 2005 | 3,060 |
| 2006 | 2,926 |
| 2007 | 2,769 |
| 2008 | 2,668 |
| 2009 | 2,609 |
| 2010 | 2,504 |
| 2011 | 2,482 |
| 2012 | 2,380 |
| 2013 | 2,342 |
| 2014 | 2,374 |
| 2015 | 2,392 |
| 2016 | 2,328 |
| 2017 | 2,297 |
| 2018 | 2,469 |
| 2019 | 2,520 |
| 2020 | 2,469 |
| 2021 | 2,557 |
| 2022 | 2,542 |
| 2023 | 2,490 |
| 2024 | 2,529 |
| 2025 | 2,486 |
| 2026 | 2,486 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Fuel type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Lotus Elan MOT reliability
In 2025, 78.4% of Lotus Elan MOT tests were passed first time, against 72.8% for all cars. Cars of the same ages as the Lotus Elans tested pass 61.1% of the time, so the Lotus Elan does better than average for its age, by 17.3 points. In 2024 its pass rate was 77.0%.
MOT first-time pass rate by age: Lotus Elan vs all cars
Comparing like with like: each bar pair covers cars of the same age, so an older average age does not count against a model.
| Vehicle age | Lotus Elan | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 20+ years | 78.3% | 61.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common Lotus Elan MOT defects and advisories
The single most common reason a Lotus Elan failed its MOT in 2025 was “Parking brake efficiency below requirements”, on 20.8% of 293 failed tests. 35.3% of tests ended with at least one advisory, a problem to watch that did not fail the test; the most common was “Wheel bearings: slight play”. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
Most common reasons for failure
Share of failed tests with each defect. A test can fail for more than one.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 20.8% |
| Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements Brakes | 13.3% |
| Service brake imbalance: across an axle Brakes | 11.3% |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding Brakes | 9.6% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.5% |
| Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value Brakes | 8.2% |
| Non catalyst emissions carbon monoxide content excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.8% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 6.1% |
| Headlamp aim: too low Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.1% |
| Headlamp: not working on main beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.1% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Most common advisories
Share of all tests with each advisory: worth checking on a car you are buying.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Wheel bearings: slight play Suspension | 7.8% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.7% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 5.6% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 5.5% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 4.3% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 4.0% |
| Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Non-component advisories | 3.5% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 3.5% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 2.7% |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 2.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Lotus Elan annual mileage
The average Lotus Elan covers 875 miles a year, worked out from odometer readings at consecutive MOT tests.
Average annual mileage by age
| Vehicle age | Miles a year |
|---|---|
| 20+ years | 878 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Lotus Elan engine sizes and fuel types
Of the 2,503 Lotus Elans licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 94.5% have an engine of 1,501cc to 1,600cc, and 3.3% have an engine of 1,601cc to 1,700cc.
Engine sizes, end of 2025
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 1,501cc to 1,600cc 2,366 licensed | 94.5% |
| 1,601cc to 1,700cc 83 licensed | 3.3% |
| Other sizes 54 licensed | 2.2% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,501–1,600cc | Petrol | 2,363 | 94.4% |
| 1,601–1,700cc | Petrol | 83 | 3.3% |
| 1,901–2,000cc | Petrol | 34 | 1.4% |
United Kingdom figures from DfT table VEH0220 (licensed cars at the end of each year, SORN excluded), so they differ slightly from the Great Britain counts elsewhere on this page. How we use engine sizes.
Lotus Elan safety recalls
We found no recalls for the Lotus Elan in DVSA’s records since 1992. That does not mean none apply: DVSA sometimes records a recall under a range or chassis name we cannot match to a model. Check a specific car on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check.
A recall applies to cars built on particular dates or with particular VINs, not to every Lotus Elan. The details come from manufacturers through DVSA, which says they may be delayed or incomplete. To check a specific car, use GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check or ask the manufacturer or a dealer. How we match recalls to models.
Compare the Lotus Elan with other Lotus models
| Model | Licensed | Change on a year | SORN | Rank | Main fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Elan | 2,486 | −2.9% | 2,080 | 525 | Petrol |
| Lotus Elise | 3,528 | −2.5% | 3,816 | 478 | Petrol |
| Lotus Eletre | 2,581 | +24.4% | 26 | 520 | Electric |
| Lotus Emira | 1,591 | +7.4% | 138 | 592 | Petrol |
| Lotus Exige | 961 | −1.2% | 735 | 697 | Petrol |
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 4,566 Elan records (licensed and SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
| Registered for the first time | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | 2001 to 2025 | – | 15 September 2026 |
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 1,356 MOT tests | 15 September 2026 |
- Figures cover Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland is not included.
- Licensed counts are vehicles with a current tax or exemption at the end of each year (or the latest quarter). SORN counts are shown separately.
- First registrations count vehicles registered in Great Britain for the first time, including used imports.
- Models are grouped by DVLA’s generic model name, so every generation and trim counts together.
- MOT figures cover normal tests of cars aged three and over in 2025; retests are excluded. Age is rounded to the nearest year.
- DVSA records the model name typed in at the test. We match those names to DVLA’s generic models, so a handful of tests may be counted under a close relative.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.