Lotus Exige
From 2,253 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 40 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 40 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 17 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 15 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 14 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 10 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 9 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 9 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 9 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 8 |
| number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 7 |
Lotus Exige on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 19 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 18.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,180 | 514 | +1 | -0 | +11 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,219 | 464 | +0 | -0 | +11 |
| 2025 Q1 | 973 | 699 | +0 | -0 | +16 |
| 2024 Q4 | 873 | 783 | +0 | -19 | -19 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,191 | 484 | +0 | -0 | +14 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,249 | 412 | +2 | -0 | +93 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,071 | 497 | +0 | -116 | -116 |
| 2023 Q4 | 935 | 749 | +0 | -36 | -36 |
8 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exige Sport 350 | Petrol | 179 | 25% |
| Exige S | Petrol | 113 | 16% |
| Exige Sport 410 | Petrol | 108 | 15% |
| Exige | Petrol | 94 | 13% |
| Exige (Touring) | Petrol | 65 | 9% |
| Exige S Race And Premium Sport | Petrol | 54 | 8% |
| Exige Sport 380 | Petrol | 54 | 8% |
| Exige S Perf & Tour&Sport | Petrol | 53 | 7% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 92.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2019 | 94.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2018 | 95.1% | number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2017 | 94% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
9 earlier years
| 2016 | 90.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
| 2015 | 94.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2014 | 93.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, brake hoses or connections leaking on hydraulic systems |
| 2013 | 95.1% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp |
| 2008 | 86.9% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps |
| 2007 | 91.8% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2006 | 81.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2005 | 92.9% | stop lamps all missing or inoperative, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2000 | 95.1% | emissions levels exceed default limits, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Exiges tested had between 12,304 and 38,476 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 22,773 median miles, the Exige has 0.033 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Lotus models
| Lotus Elise | 88% |
| Lotus Elan | 78.9% |
| Lotus Esprit | 88.6% |
Common questions
What is the Lotus Exige MOT pass rate?
The Lotus Exige has a 92.4% MOT pass rate based on 2,253 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Lotus Exige?
The most common MOT failure on the Lotus Exige is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 40 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed default limits.
How many Lotus Exiges are on UK roads?
There are 1,180 Lotus Exiges currently licensed on UK roads, with 514 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Lotus Exige at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Lotus Exige is 22,773 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 12,304 and 38,476 miles.
Buying a used Exige?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.