MOT cost .

Lotus

Exige

1,358 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Exiges pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 14.3 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — a confident result.

Pass

90.0%

Pass-after-fix

2.2%

Fail

7.0%

Avg miles

28,134

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

Exige: a strong MOT record by UK norms

Across 1,358 MOT tests, the Exige returns 90.0% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. A number-plate lamp out and lambda coefficient outside the default limits round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 28,134, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

    17 occurrences · 1.3% of tests

  2. 02

    A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

    14 occurrences · 1.0% of tests

  3. 03

    Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

    14 occurrences · 1.0% of tests

  4. 04

    Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

    10 occurrences · 0.7% of tests

  5. 05

    Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements

    9 occurrences · 0.7% of tests

  6. 06

    The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

    8 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  7. 07

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    8 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  8. 08

    Emissions levels exceed default limits

    8 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  9. 09

    The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

    6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests

  10. 10

    Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits

    6 occurrences · 0.4% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£83–£165

If every one of this Exige's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

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Build your own retest budget.

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

Digital tyre-tread depth gauge

Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

Item 03 · Amazon UK

MOT-spec replacement number plate

Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.

Search Amazon UK

Buying or keeping a Exige?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a Exige and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.