DVLA verified
MOT valid

CATERHAM SEVEN (S3)1996 · 1.7L PETROL

C7 MWA

Vehicle Insight Summary

Considering this 1996 CATERHAM SEVEN (S3)? It's a PETROL with a 1700cc engine showing 29,150 miles. MOT is valid and it's not currently taxed. View the full DVLA history below.

MOT
Valid
Expires 28/05/2027
Tax
SORN
Statutory Off Road Notification
Fuel
PETROL
Year
1996
Engine
1700cc

Free vehicle health score

85
/ 100 · Good

Public record health check: Good.

Based on free DVLA & DVSA signals. Premium checks for stolen/finance/write-off history are locked below.

✓ Valid MOT
! Tax Status Unknown
✓ Exceptional MOT pass rate (100%)
! Older vehicle
A score of 85 doesn't mean it's safe to buy. Private markers don't appear in public data.
Verified Experian Data

Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for C7MWA

Data provided by Experian
Stolen
Locked
Finance
Locked
Write-off
Locked
Salvage
Locked
Imported
Locked
Exported
Locked
Scrapped
Locked
Destruction
Locked
V5C Logbook
Locked

Premium Data Locked

Unlock the full Experian-powered report to reveal outstanding finance, write-off history, stolen status, and more.

Data provided by Experian

Technical Specifications

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Full MOT History

AI Analysis · MOT Narrative

Checking the history for this 1996 Caterham Seven (S3) (C7 MWA), we found 5 MOT results in the period of June 2021 to May 2026.

With 5 passes and 0 failures, the lifetime MOT pass rate stands at 100%. This is a strong MOT track record, suggesting the vehicle has been well-maintained.

The most commonly flagged areas across all MOT tests are: Lighting (3 issues), Suspension (2 issues), Steering (1 issue). These areas are worth paying attention to when inspecting this vehicle.

There are 6 advisory notices in the MOT history. Advisories are not failures but indicate areas that may need attention in the future.

AI insights are experimental and can be incorrect. All claims should be manually verified.

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY

Buyer's Guide

AI-powered analysis based on real MOT data and market insights.

Buying Score
78/100
Risk Level
Low
Low
Est. Annual Cost
£600-£900
Mileage
At 29,150 miles, this 1996 Caterham is s...

Our Verdict

This 1996 Caterham Seven S3 (C7MWA) is a well-preserved, low-mileage example with a largely clean MOT record and is worth serious consideration for a keen driver. The minor advisories noted over recent years are typical for a 30-year-old lightweight sports car and do not indicate serious structural or mechanical concern.

When viewing this Caterham, prioritise verifying the service history given the age of the vehicle, as MOT records alone will not confirm routine maintenance such as cambelt or chain intervals on the 1.7-litre unit. The 2023 MOT noted a perishing offside steering rack gator and slight coolant and oil leaks, so ask the seller what remedial work was carried out after that test and request evidence.

Reviewed by the IsItAGoodCar editorial team — AI-assisted analysis verified by automotive experts.

Data Sources

DVSA

MOT test records from the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency.

DVLA

Vehicle registration, tax, and specification data.

OneAutoAPI

Market valuation, warranty, and recall intelligence.

AI Analysis

Machine learning insights trained on millions of UK MOT records.

Learn more about our methodology