Official DVLA Record

1997 Rover 800 2.5L Petrol · R201 AVC

R201 AVC

1997 Rover 800 (2.5L, petrol). First registered 01/08/1997. Recorded mileage 57,922 miles. MOT status: Expired.

Make & Model
ROVER 800
Year / Origin
1997 · Reading
MOT Status
Valid until 17/05/2023
Road Tax
Untaxed (30/11/2022)
Recorded Mileage
57,922 mi
ULEZ Compliance
Non-Compliant (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
Fuel & Engine
PETROL · 2.5L
Reliability Guide
Common Faults
MOT Status
Expired
Valid until 17/05/2023
Tax Status
Untaxed
Tax due 30/11/2022
Fuel Type
PETROL
Year
1997
Engine
2497cc
Mechanical Assessment

AI-generated interpretation of this vehicle’s MOT record — not an official statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.

The 1997 Rover 800 has a mixed MOT history, with recent failures indicating unresolved mechanical and structural concerns. The most recent MOT on 2022-05-19 recorded multiple defects, including steering rack play, brake binding, and corrosion near chassis mountings. These issues were also present in an earlier failed MOT on 2022-05-09, suggesting persistent problems. A prior failed MOT in April 2022 highlighted additional faults, such as ABS warning lamps, headlamp misalignment, and suspension play, indicating a pattern of recurring issues rather than isolated incidents. The vehicle’s low mileage of 57,922 miles (about 1,997 miles per year) raises questions about its usage. While lower mileage can imply lighter use, it may also reflect long periods of inactivity, which can accelerate corrosion and component degradation. The repeated corrosion near chassis mountings (6.2.2 (d) (i)) and steering rack issues (2.1.3 (g) (i)) suggest potential structural or alignment problems that may worsen over time. Brake system defects, including binding and inefficiency, were noted in multiple MOTs, pointing to ongoing maintenance needs. The trend of recurring defects, particularly in braking, suspension, and corrosion, indicates the vehicle’s condition has not improved. While the 2022-05-19 MOT passed, it still listed several issues, implying that repairs may not have fully resolved underlying problems.

R201 AVC Key Findings

  • 3 MOT tests recorded
  • Latest MOT passed on 19/05/2022
  • 57,922 miles recorded at latest MOT
  • 2 historical MOT failures
  • 8 defects noted at the latest MOT
  • Recurring brakes items (11 mentions)

Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.

MOT Roadworthiness Analysis
35
/ 100 · Poor
DVSA Test Records Evaluated

MOT Roadworthiness: Poor

This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.

✗ MOT Expired or Failed
✓ Taxed
✗ Poor MOT pass rate (33%)
! Older vehicle
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Full History Report

Official provenance and safety check for R201AVC

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Stolen
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Finance
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Write-off
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Salvage
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Imported
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Exported
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Scrapped
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Destruction
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Technical Specifications

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Reliability & Known Issues

Known faults for Rover Rover 800 Series

Our database tracks 4 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.

R201 AVC Mileage History

  1. 11/04/202257,868 mi
  2. 09/05/202257,899 mi+31 mi
  3. 19/05/202257,922 mi+23 mi

Average of roughly 515 miles per year across 3 recorded odometer readings.

R201 AVC MOT History

Live data last synced with DVSA: 1 Sept 2026, 01:41
MOT Analysis

Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.

3 MOT tests are recorded for this 1997 Rover 800 (R201 AVC) between April 2022 and May 2022.

The record contains 1 pass and 2 failures.

The most recent test on 19 May 2022 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 2 failures that buyers may want to investigate.

Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (11 issues), Bodywork (6 issues), Steering (4 issues), Lighting (4 issues), Suspension (3 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.

In total 22 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.

Recorded failure items include: “Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))”; “Nearside Front Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))”; “Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))”.

PASS
FAIL
ADVISORY

Buyer's Guide & Inspection Advisory

Expert automotive synthesis from historical MOT defect records and market benchmarks.

Buying Score
28/100
Risk Level
High
High
Est. Annual Cost
£1,200-£1,500
Mileage
At 57,922 miles recorded in May 2022, th...

Our Verdict

Approach this 1997 Rover 800 with significant caution due to repeated MOT failures and structural corrosion flagged in 2022. Unless you are a specialist collector or able to carry out extensive repairs, this is a poor buying proposition for a typical used car buyer.

Given the 2022 MOT failures, budget for immediate rectification of brake pipes, steering rack inner joints, and suspension ball joints before considering ownership. The sills and outer chassis showed corrosion within 30cm of mountings at both sides in April and May 2022, so a professional underside inspection is essential to judge structural longevity. Negotiate hard on price — the recorded defects indicate at least £1,000-plus of workshop bills even after the May 2022 pass, and the insecure battery noted back to 2018 suggests inconsistent care. Seek full service history; with no aggregate Rover 800 data, the only reliability evidence is this car's own patchy MOT record. A specialist Rover enthusiast club or marque mechanic should assess the 2.5cc engine and auto/manual drivetrain before purchase.

As a 1997 2497cc petrol saloon, this Rover 800 will fall into a high road tax band for pre-2001 cars, roughly £360 per year based on engine size. Insurance groups for the Rover 800 are modest by modern standards but age-related parts scarcity can push premiums and repair costs up for a 29-year-old vehicle. Fuel economy from the 2.5-litre unit is unlikely to exceed 30mpg, and with typical maintenance on worn suspension and brakes seen in the MOT data, annual running costs are estimated at £1,200-£1,500 including fuel, tax, insurance, and upkeep.

The 2022 MOTs specifically list near and offside brake pipes corroded front to rear, outer sills and chassis corroded at mountings, and play in steering rack inner joints — physically check these areas for weld integrity and fresh repair quality. Inspect the front suspension lower arms and ball joints flagged as worn in 2018, April 2022, and May 2022, plus the anti-roll bar linkage and steering rack gaiters for deterioration. Verify the ABS warning lamp fault from April 2022 is resolved, confirm headlamp aim and side repeaters now work, and test service brake efficiency given the below-requirement results recorded twice in 2022.

This black 2.5-litre petrol Rover 800 (R201AVC) first registered in August 1997 shows a low overall mileage of 57,922 at its last 2022 MOT, but the recent test history reveals serious concerns. It failed twice in spring 2022 before a pass on 19 May 2022, with corrosion to brake pipes, sills, and chassis mountings plus steering and braking faults. No aggregate model reliability data is available, but the individual history suggests an ageing car with deferred maintenance.

No aggregate MOT reliability data is available for the Rover 800, so assessment relies solely on this vehicle's individual history which shows corrosion and wear issues.

Reviewed by the IsItAGoodCar editorial team — Verified automotive analysis synthesized from official vehicle registries.

Data Sources

DVSA

Official MOT test logs & failure reasons

DVLA

Tax, registration & powertrain specs

Experian

Finance, stolen markers & total loss

AI Analysis

Historical fault & advisory patterns