Is the Lotus Emira ULEZ compliant?

Most petrol Lotus Emiras from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.

What insurance group is the Lotus Emira in?

The Lotus Emira sits in insurance group 40 of 50, towards the pricier end of the scale. Your actual premium still depends on age, postcode, annual mileage and no-claims history.

Is the Lotus Emira reliable?

Our reliability score for the Lotus Emira is 86 out of 100 (excellent), derived from DVSA MOT records.

What economy does the Lotus Emira get?

Expect roughly around 27 mpg combined for a typical Lotus Emira, based on official figures and our running-cost model. Real-world figures vary with driving style, load and conditions.

What are the common problems on the Lotus Emira?

On the Lotus Emira, the issues that come up most by mileage include Lighting & signalling, Tyres & wheels and Driver's view. The section above breaks down each one with its typical mileage, repair cost and severity.

How many Lotus Emiras are on UK roads?

About 1,581 Lotus Emiras are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Is the Lotus Emira reliable?

The Lotus Emira scores 86/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure. That is computed from 1,935 real DVSA MOT test results.

How much does a used Lotus Emira cost?

A 2023 Lotus Emira with around 14,997 miles is worth roughly £63,200 today (typical range £54,250–£72,200). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.

How quickly does the Lotus Emira depreciate?

A new Lotus Emira typically loses about 30% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.

What insurance group is the Lotus Emira?

The Lotus Emira sits in insurance group 40 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.

What goes wrong on a used Lotus Emira?

The most common age-related issues we track for the Lotus Emira are: lighting & signalling (typically around under 30k miles, £15-£120 to put right); tyres & wheels (typically around under 30k miles, £80-£500 to put right); driver's view (typically around under 30k miles, £60-£300 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.

What does the Lotus Emira cost to run?

Expect around 27 mpg combined, £195 a year in road tax, about £185 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Ranked #296 car in the UK · Sports · 194 units sold last year

Lotus Emira

The Lotus Emira is the marque's last petrol sports car - a fittingly beautiful send-off, pairing classic Lotus mid-engined balance with either a supercharged Toyota V6 or an AMG-sourced four-cylinder. Sharper and more usable than its predecessors but still a featherweight by class standards, it's a genuine Porsche Cayman rival with real soul. As a used buy it's a future classic: the final combustion Lotus, bought for its handling and that bittersweet significance.

Body: Sports
Years: 2022–2026
Fuel: Petrol
Economy: 27 mpg
Insurance: Group 40

The short version

74/100

Forecourt score

Value 95 · Reliability 88 · Insurance 6

The Lotus Emira holds its value well and is dearer to run than most. Its MOT-based reliability is excellent, 86 out of 100, ahead of 88% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 95% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20). Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Estimates are tuned to the version you choose.

Fuel

Petrol · 3456cc

Power

405 ps

Drivetrain

RWD

Cam drive

Chain

Quoted MPG

28 mpg

The volume Emira. 3.5L supercharged V6 (Toyota-sourced, used in Lotus Evora / Toyota Camry V6), 405 PS, 6-speed manual (or auto), RWD. 4.3s 0-62 (manual). UK-built at Hethel — Lotus pride. The last ICE Lotus before EV-only future.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

Year of registration2023

20222026

Mileage on the clock14,997 mi

0Expected: 14,997180k

Conditiongood

PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Region

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Know the registration?

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

£63,200

Range £51,850 – £75,350

medium confidence

When new (2023)£86,000Age-based value£60,200Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region+£13Market calibration+£5,787Forecourt price£66,000Private sale£60,450Part-exchange£53,200

Holdthis 3-year-old

Fair value — depreciation is moderating.

At 14,997 miles it’s well above the ~9,598 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

That’s a lot of miles for the age. One nearer the typical 9,598 miles would hold its value better.

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration Lotus Emira loses value over time.

Marker = your selection
Dashed = mileage either side

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 14,997 miles you entered above — worth about £63,200 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 4,999 miles a year.

5-year total

£19,829

Per year

£3,966

All-in per mile

£0.79

Fuel per mile

25.8p

If a company carAround £1,209/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£604/mo at 20%) — 37% band

Depreciation£2,039

Fuel / energy£6,450

Servicing£1,765

Road tax£975

Insurance£8,600

If you're a company-car driver

At 37% BIK, a 40% taxpayer would pay about £1209/month in company-car tax (£604/month at 20%) — on top of the running costs above. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 7 years

A 7-year-old example loses roughly £3,900 a year — under half the £7,850 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 95%

Reliabilitybetter than 88%

Fuel economybetter than 5%

Cheap to insurebetter than 6%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

V6 Supercharged / Turbo SE

Lotus's last ICE sports car. Beautiful design, mid-engined, lightweight focus. Cross-shop Porsche 718 Cayman, Alpine A110, BMW M2. The V6 manual is the enthusiast's pick; Turbo SE the modern DCT alternative. Strong residuals — Emira will become a future classic as the last ICE Lotus.

New price: £80,000
Annual fuel / energy: £2,300
3-yr depreciation: 35%

Watch for

·Too new for clear patterns
·Some early V6 transmission glitches (campaign-fixed)
·Strong residuals — last ICE Lotus
·UK-built at Hethel — Lotus pride

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 22/06/2026) · Petrol 153.3p/L, Diesel 172.5p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 40 of 50 (high — premium bracket) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

No-claims bonus3 years

0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+

Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£1,720/ year

Roughly £143 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.

Age band	Lower risk	Typical	Higher risk
Age 17-25	£3,922	£4,902	£6,373
Age 26-32	£2,047	£2,408	£2,938
Age 33-39Selected	£1,514	£1,720	£2,030
Age 40-49	£1,285	£1,428	£1,656
Age 50+	£1,146	£1,273	£1,502

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

Annual mileage4,999 mi/yr

2,000UK avg for this model: 4,99930,000

Routine service

£185

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£210

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£195

Standard rate, post year-one

Fuel

£1,209

27 mpg, £1.49/L

Insurance

£1,720

Age 33-39, group 40

Clean-air zones

✓ ULEZ compliant

All petrol variants meet Euro 4 standards and are ULEZ compliant.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£3,519 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£80

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£240

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£520

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£900

per year · high risk

Tyres

235/40 R18 · 245/35 R19

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 15,000 miles.

Budget

£400

set of 4, fitted · £85 per tyre

Mid-range

£580

set of 4, fitted · £130 per tyre

Premium

£840

set of 4, fitted · £195 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

Option	New cost	Added used value	Return
Tow bar (factory-fit) Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.	£650	£450	69%
Parking sensors & reversing camera Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.	£500	£300	60%
Heated seats / cold-weather pack	£450	£200	44%
Metallic or premium paint Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.	£600	£200	33%
Panoramic / opening roof	£1,100	£350	32%
Larger alloy wheels	£700	£200	29%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 14,997 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at under 30k milesCost £15-£120low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.6% of MOT tests under 30k miles — from 1,897 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at under 30k milesCost £80-£500low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.5% of MOT tests under 30k miles — from 1,897 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at under 30k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 0.7% of MOT tests under 30k miles — from 1,897 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

EmissionsUpcoming

Typical at under 30k milesCost £150-£800medium severityParts high

Recorded in 0.7% of MOT tests under 30k miles — from 1,897 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at under 30k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 0.3% of MOT tests under 30k miles — from 1,897 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at under 30k milesCost £150-£450low severityParts high

Recorded in 0.2% of MOT tests under 30k miles — from 1,897 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 1,935 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

94.9% at 3yr → 88.2% at 4yr

A 3-year-old Emira passes its MOT 94.9% of the time; by 4 years that has slipped to 88.2%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

Not enough older examples yet to gauge longevity.

Survival by registration year

1% of 2022 cars still on the road

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

Common MOT failures by mileage

The defect categories this Emira fails on most often, and how the failure rate climbs as the miles add up — from the same DVSA test records.

Category	0-30k	30-60k	60-100k	100k+
Lighting & signalling	2%	—	—	—
Tyres & wheels	2%	—	—	—
Driver's view	1%	—	—	—
Emissions	1%	—	—	—
Brakes	—	—	—	—
Suspension	—	—	—	—

Share of MOT tests in each mileage band with at least one defect in that category. The peak band for each is highlighted.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a Emira at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

2 yr10,395
3 yr9,598
4 yr7,900

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records (ages with at least 10 tests shown).

Reliability

86/ 100

Excellent

Composite of MOT pass rate, defect prevalence and cohort survival from 1,897 tests — medium confidence.

MOT outlook

Insufficient MOT history at this car's reference age — too few tests to compute a reliable percentile.

Things owners say

01The supercharged V6 (with a manual option) is the enthusiast's pick; the AMG four-cylinder is the other choice.
02Classic Lotus handling and balance - one of the best-steering cars in the class.
03The last petrol Lotus, which gives it future-classic appeal; check build quality and history.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Lotus Emira, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

Higher-value cars like this are relay-theft targets — keyless entry can be exploited from the driveway in under a minute.

Parts theft

Around average

Parts-theft risk is around average — catalytic-converter theft is the main thing to be aware of on any petrol or diesel car.

Worth doing

Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a Lotus Emira into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

City	Area	Daily charge	Likely outcome
London	All of Greater London (within the M25)	£12.50	Likely exempt Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
Birmingham	Inside the A4540 Middleway	£8.00	Likely exempt Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
Bristol	City centre and part of the Portway	£9.00	Likely exempt Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
Glasgow	City centre	—	Likely exempt Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
Edinburgh	City centre	—	Likely exempt Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
Aberdeen	City centre	—	Likely exempt Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.
Dundee	City centre	—	Likely exempt Petrol from 2006 meets Euro 4.

Zones that don't charge private cars

Bath — City centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
Bradford — Outer ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
Sheffield — Inside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
Newcastle & Gateshead — City centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
Portsmouth — Part of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this Lotus Emira as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 237 g/km, using £98,000 as the P11D value.

Tax year	BIK %	Tax @ 20%	Tax @ 40%	Monthly @ 20%	Monthly @ 40%
2025-26	37%	£7,252	£14,504	£604	£1,209
2026-27	37%	£7,252	£14,504	£604	£1,209
2027-28	38%	£7,448	£14,896	£621	£1,241
2028-29	39%	£7,644	£15,288	£637	£1,274
2029-30	39%	£7,644	£15,288	£637	£1,274

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported Lotus is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~25

Very few outlets

Specialist sports

Network size relative to the UK's largest (Lotus is 0.6% of all franchised outlets)

Very few franchised outlets — main-dealer servicing means travelling to one of a handful of locations, so budget for that.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

Length

4,400 mm

Width

1,850 mm

Height

1,300 mm

Kerb weight

1,500 kg

Boot

280–320 L

Fuel tank

48 L

How many are still out there

Of every Lotus Emira ever registered in the UK, this is what's actively on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, or gone for good.

Total ever registered

1,759

Currently taxed & on road

1,581

90% of all registered

SORN (off road)

178

10% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

UK fleet trend — 2022 to 2025

+9.8% vs 2024

861,581

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 1 Jul 2026

Common questions

Lotus Emira, answered

Is the Lotus Emira ULEZ compliant?: Most petrol Lotus Emiras from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
What insurance group is the Lotus Emira in?: The Lotus Emira sits in insurance group 40 of 50, towards the pricier end of the scale. Your actual premium still depends on age, postcode, annual mileage and no-claims history.
Is the Lotus Emira reliable?: Our reliability score for the Lotus Emira is 86 out of 100 (excellent), derived from DVSA MOT records.
What economy does the Lotus Emira get?: Expect roughly around 27 mpg combined for a typical Lotus Emira, based on official figures and our running-cost model. Real-world figures vary with driving style, load and conditions.
What are the common problems on the Lotus Emira?: On the Lotus Emira, the issues that come up most by mileage include Lighting & signalling, Tyres & wheels and Driver's view. The section above breaks down each one with its typical mileage, repair cost and severity.
How many Lotus Emiras are on UK roads?: About 1,581 Lotus Emiras are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

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Common questions

Lotus Emira, answered from the data

Is the Lotus Emira reliable?: The Lotus Emira scores 86/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure. That is computed from 1,935 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used Lotus Emira cost?: A 2023 Lotus Emira with around 14,997 miles is worth roughly £63,200 today (typical range £54,250–£72,200). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the Lotus Emira depreciate?: A new Lotus Emira typically loses about 30% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the Lotus Emira?: The Lotus Emira sits in insurance group 40 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used Lotus Emira?: The most common age-related issues we track for the Lotus Emira are: lighting & signalling (typically around under 30k miles, £15-£120 to put right); tyres & wheels (typically around under 30k miles, £80-£500 to put right); driver's view (typically around under 30k miles, £60-£300 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the Lotus Emira cost to run?: Expect around 27 mpg combined, £195 a year in road tax, about £185 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.