Lotus Exige MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 91.4% of Lotus Exige MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 1,351 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
95.2%
All cars: 86.1% (9.1 points better). 229 tests.
At 6–10 years
92.7%
All cars: 76.1% (16.6 points better). 427 tests.
At 11 years and over
88.5%
All cars: 61.3% (27.2 points better). 574 tests.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 70 | 95.7% | 87.8% | 6,250 miles |
| 4 | 94 | 95.7% | 86.4% | 8,750 miles |
| 5 | 65 | 93.8% | 84.5% | 13,750 miles |
| 6 | 76 | 93.4% | 81.9% | 13,750 miles |
| 7 | 88 | 90.9% | 79.3% | 16,250 miles |
| 8 | 90 | 95.6% | 76.3% | 18,750 miles |
| 9 | 76 | 93.4% | 73.1% | 23,750 miles |
| 10 | 97 | 90.7% | 70.0% | 21,250 miles |
| 11 | 72 | 90.3% | 66.9% | 26,250 miles |
| 16 | 58 | 94.8% | 57.5% | 36,250 miles |
| 17 | 86 | 87.2% | 57.2% | 43,750 miles |
| 18 | 89 | 92.1% | 57.0% | 38,750 miles |
| 19 | 99 | 80.8% | 57.2% | 43,750 miles |
| 20+ | 170 | 88.8% | 61.4% | 38,750 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of Lotus Exige MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | Exige | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.7% | 16.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.0% | 4.0% |
| Brakes | 1.9% | 10.2% |
| Visibility | 1.9% | 5.2% |
| Tyres | 1.7% | 8.4% |
| Identification of the vehicle | 1.2% | 0.4% |
| Suspension | 0.7% | 13.7% |
| Steering | 0.4% | 2.5% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm failed 1.1% of tests
- Headlamp aim: too high failed 1.1% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp aim: too low failed 1.0% of tests · what this means
- Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements failed 1.0% of tests · what this means
- Washers: not working failed 1.0% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam failed 0.7% of tests · what this means
- Position lamp: not working failed 0.7% of tests · what this means
- Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits failed 0.7% of tests · what this means
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction failed 0.6% of tests · what this means
- Individual direction indicators: not working failed 0.5% of tests
Checking a particular Exige?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every Exige version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: petrol 99.9%, diesel 0.1%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other Lotus models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.