Is the Lotus Elise ULEZ Compliant?
Based on 5,150 MOT tests, around 32% of Lotus Elises still on the road are likely to meet London's ULEZ standards, and about 40% are likely to be charged. For the remaining 28%, it depends on the exact Euro standard or month of registration.
The fuel mix matters: tested cars were 100% petrol. Petrol Elises are generally compliant from 2006, while petrol cars from 2000 or earlier are likely to be charged.
- Likely compliant
- 32%
- Likely charged
- 40%
- Depends on the car
- 28%
- MOT tests analysed
- 5,150
Check a specific Elise
Year and fuel type are a guide. Enter the registration to check that car's own record.
Elise ULEZ compliance by year and fuel
Estimated from the year of first registration. Numbers show how many Elises of each type were MOT tested, as a guide to how common they are.
| First registered | Petrol |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Likely compliant72 tested |
| 2019 | Likely compliant103 tested |
| 2018 | Likely compliant70 tested |
| 2017 | Likely compliant87 tested |
| 2016 | Likely compliant94 tested |
| 2015 | Likely compliant101 tested |
| 2014 | Likely compliant85 tested |
| 2013 | Likely compliant51 tested |
| 2011 | Likely compliant61 tested |
| 2010 | Likely compliant115 tested |
| 2009 | Likely compliant102 tested |
| 2008 | Likely compliant187 tested |
| 2007 | Likely compliant230 tested |
| 2006 | Likely compliant228 tested |
| 2005 | Check Euro standard249 tested |
| 2004 | Check Euro standard245 tested |
| 2003 | Check Euro standard291 tested |
| 2002 | Check Euro standard410 tested |
| 2001 | Check Euro standard266 tested |
| 2000 | Likely charged515 tested |
| 1999 | Likely charged665 tested |
| 1998 | Likely charged626 tested |
| 1997 | Likely charged225 tested |
How ULEZ rules apply to the Elise
Cars that miss the standard pay £12.50 for each day they're driven in the zone. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006).
- Petrol (100% of Elises tested): likely compliant from 2006; 2000 and earlier are likely to be charged.
Thinking of buying one? Check how Elises fare at the MOT too: see the Lotus Elise MOT failure rate.
Buying a used Lotus Elise for London: what the MOT data shows
The Lotus Elises in this data were first registered between 1997 and 2020. 1999 was the most common year, with 665 tests (13% of the total), and half were registered in 2002 or later.
Elises from likely-compliant years passed their MOT first time 88% of the time, at an average of 32,202 miles. Older ones likely to be charged passed 82% of the time with 57,657 miles on average, so a compliant car is usually the more reliable buy as well as the cheaper one to drive in London.
On a budget, the oldest petrol Elises likely to comply are from 2006. 228 of them were tested; 2006 cars passed first time 84% of the time and averaged 46,678 miles. Check the Euro standard on the V5C before you buy one from around then.
Whichever year you choose, check the Elise's weak spots. The most common MOT failures were lights and electrics: "not working" (2.9% of tests); noise, emissions and leaks: "Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits" (1.5%); visibility: "does not clear the windscreen effectively" (1.3%). The most frequent advisory was "in such a condition that it is seriously weakened", on 5.4% of tests.
Overall, 85% of Elises passed first time, well above the 71% average for all cars, and they had covered 48,180 miles on average, fewer than the 73,145-mile average.
ULEZ compliance for other models
About this data
Based on 5,150 first MOT tests of the Lotus Elise carried out in 2023.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). First attempts on cars only; “pass rate” means passing first time. Averages cover all 32,735,164 cars tested (71% passed), and years with under 50 tests are hidden.
ULEZ results are estimates from fuel type and year of first registration. Transport for London makes the final decision.
Learn more about how our data works.
Frequently asked questions
What 5,150 MOT tests say about the Lotus Elise and London's ULEZ.
Is the Lotus Elise ULEZ compliant?
In our data about 32% of Elises on the road are likely compliant and 40% likely to be charged. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006).
Which petrol Elise years are ULEZ compliant?
Petrol Elises first registered from 2006 are likely compliant. Some earlier cars meet Euro 4 too, so check the exact vehicle.
How can I check if a specific Elise is ULEZ compliant?
Enter its registration in our free ULEZ check, which uses the vehicle's DVLA record. Always confirm with TfL before relying on it.
Related guides
- ULEZ · 6 min readULEZ explained: which cars are compliant and what it costsSince August 2023 the ULEZ covers every London borough. Which cars comply, what the daily charge costs if yours doesn't, and what you can do about it.Read the guide
- MOT · 6 min readPre-MOT checklist: 20 things to check yourself before the testTwenty quick checks, grouped by area, that you can do on your driveway in under half an hour. No tools beyond a coin and a helper needed for most.Read the guide
- Buying a used car · 6 min readHow to check if a car has been clocked using MOT mileage historyWinding back an odometer takes minutes with a laptop, but every MOT logs the reading publicly. A step-by-step method, with worked examples, for spotting the gaps.Read the guide
Is your Elise ULEZ compliant?
Enter the registration for a check based on that car's own DVLA record.