1991 Caterham Seven (s3) — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1991 perform at MOT as they age

35 years

Current Age

94.3%

Latest Pass Rate

377

Total Tests (All Years)

29,845 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1991 Caterham Seven (s3) as it ages.

18 yrs75.6%

→ ↑11.6%

19 yrs87.2%

→ ↓14.5%

20 yrs72.7%

→ ↑0.8%

21 yrs73.5%

→ ↑2.2%

22 yrs75.7%

→ ↑14.6%

23 yrs90.3%

→ ↓15.3%

24 yrs75.0%

→ ↑7.9%

25 yrs82.9%

→ ↓2.9%

26 yrs80.0%

→ ↑6.7%

31 yrs86.7%

→ ↑7.6%

33 yrs94.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
18 yrs	75.6%	41
19 yrs	87.2%	39
20 yrs	72.7%	33
21 yrs	73.5%	34
22 yrs	75.7%	37
23 yrs	90.3%	31
24 yrs	75.0%	32
25 yrs	82.9%	35
26 yrs	80.0%	30
31 yrs	86.7%	30
33 yrs	94.3%	35

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1991 Caterham Seven (s3) pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (33 yrs)	94.3%	35
2022 (31 yrs)	86.7%	30
2017 (26 yrs)	80%	30
2016 (25 yrs)	82.9%	35
2015 (24 yrs)	75%	32
2014 (23 yrs)	90.3%	31
2013 (22 yrs)	75.7%	37
2012 (21 yrs)	73.5%	34
2011 (20 yrs)	72.7%	33
2010 (19 yrs)	87.2%	39
2009 (18 yrs)	75.6%	41

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

75.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 41Avg Mileage 25,089Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.6%

2010

87.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 39Avg Mileage 23,930Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.3%

2011

72.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 33Avg Mileage 26,390Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.1%

2012

73.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 34Avg Mileage 24,992Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 14.7%

2013

75.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 37Avg Mileage 25,786Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 10.8%

2014

90.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 31Avg Mileage 25,854Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 9.7%

2015

75.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 32Avg Mileage 25,629Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.3%

2016

82.9%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 35Avg Mileage 22,898Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.1%

2017

80.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 30Avg Mileage 24,661Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 13.3%

2022

86.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 30Avg Mileage 27,137Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 10.0%

2024

94.3%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 35Avg Mileage 29,845Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 11.4%

MOT results for 1991 Caterham Seven (s3) by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	18	75.6%	41	25,089	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.6%
2010	19	87.2%	39	23,930	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.3%
2011	20	72.7%	33	26,390	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.1%
2012	21	73.5%	34	24,992	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 14.7%
2013	22	75.7%	37	25,786	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 10.8%
2014	23	90.3%	31	25,854	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 9.7%
2015	24	75.0%	32	25,629	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.3%
2016	25	82.9%	35	22,898	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.1%
2017	26	80.0%	30	24,661	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 13.3%
2022	31	86.7%	30	27,137	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 10.0%
2024	33	94.3%	35	29,845	Noise, emissions and leaks — 11.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1991 Caterham Seven (s3), with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

13.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

12.5%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

9.3%

— Consistent

Noise, emissions and leaks

9.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

9.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	7.3% (18 yrs)	8.6% (33 yrs)	+1.3%	⚪ —
Steering	2.4% (18 yrs)	2.9% (33 yrs)	+0.5%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Caterham Seven (s3) page →

About This Data

This page shows how Caterham Seven (s3) cars manufactured in 1991 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 377 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.