[uk] Car MOT about to run out, should I get it tested in order to sell?

October 1, 2021 3:58 AM

I'm not sure what to do for the best. My car's MOT is about to run out (runs out on Sunday) and I won't be able to drive it anywhere apart from to the MOT test centre after that date. It's still taxed for a further month, and insured until July next year. I know I don't want/need this car anymore and mean to sell it. It's a pretty knackered old thing but due to its make/model it's still likely to sell relatively easily. I think it's unlikely to sail through its MOT but should pass without to much work being needed.

Should I:

- leave it where it is, parked up on the hard standing at the back of my house and advertise it for sale online ?

- arrange with a garage to get the MOT done and drive it there before the MOT expires ?

I think it'll sell either way but I'm not sure I'd get my money back putting it through the MOT?

argh just not sure what to do for the best!

Thanks!

posted by dance to Travel & Transportation around England (8 answers total)

You'll struggle to sell a car privately without an MOT as, technically, the prospective buyer will be unable to test drive it or drive it home. The only interest you'll get is from someone who buys and sells cars and who will, probably, offer less than someone looking to buy a car for their own use.
posted by Faff at 4:06 AM on October 1, 2021

I'd get it MoTed.

As a buyer, I'd only buy a non-MoTed car on a "spares or repair" basis i.e. at a massive discount. I would never believe a seller's claims about it passing a MoT without too much work, if they've chosen not to put it through themselves. A buyer wouldn't be able to take it for a test drive without an MoT, and legally they'd also have to arrange a trailer to pick it up if they do buy it (unless they drive it directly to the MoT centre).
posted by Klipspringer at 4:06 AM on October 1, 2021 [2 favorites]

If you're prepared to sell it at scrap value, then skip the MOT. Otherwise, take it in. At least you'll know the cost of any repairs necessary to make it roadworthy, and will be able to make an informed decision whether to repair, sell as-is, or sell for scrap (the last two options being basically the same).
posted by pipeski at 4:10 AM on October 1, 2021

I wouldn’t buy a car with a mysterious inspection looming, but if the inspection was already done and the risk known, I might. Is it that you just don’t want to be out the cash to fix the stuff that might be wrong before you possibly recoup it for sale?

Are you forced to fix the stuff that MOT finds at that mechanic, or can you get the quote and figure that into the cost of the car?
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 4:20 AM on October 1, 2021

I wouldn't buy a car without an MOT.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:30 AM on October 1, 2021 [1 favorite]

Yes you should definitely get it tested. It might even pass - which will be a huge help when you come to sell. You can check for obvious stuff like tyres being legal, light bulbs all working, etc before you take it in - so it doesn't fail on something that's trivial to fix.

But even if it fails, you'll know exactly what it's failed on, which is very useful information for any buyer. Obvs if it fails on something big, you're looking at scrap value only - but something small-ish might not put a good DIY mechanic off completely.

If it fails & you bring it home - don't forget to make a SORN. You can still drive it to & from an MoT test centre. Your insurance won't be valid without a current MoT, so you may as well stop paying it & get a refund. Same with the tax - you should get a small refund when you make the SORN - but you don't need to renew it (cancel your direct debit too).
posted by rd45 at 4:37 AM on October 1, 2021

One tip to minimise costs is to do your MoT at your local council's centre. They don't publicise these, but are legally required to make their in-house testing service for council vehicles available to the public as well. The advantage is that they have no incentive to fail vehicles unnecessarily, as they don't offer a repairs service. But obviously you have to arrange repairs at a separate garage yourself, which could also involve transporting the car there if it fails with a "dangerous" fault.

Geckwoistmeinauto: if the car has "dangerous" or "major" defects then it fails the MoT, and will only be legal to drive on the road if the faults are fixed and it then passes a further MoT.
posted by Klipspringer at 4:42 AM on October 1, 2021

I would either put it through the MOT or sell it to something like webuyanycar.com (or both). Agree with others that I don't think you'll get a lot of money for a car that you're not sure is worth putting through an MOT - it might be that you just don't think it will be good value to do so, but a private buyer is more likely to interpret as 'bound to expensively fail'. So, you'll probably end up with the same low price as if you just took it to a dealer to get rid of, but with more hassle.
posted by plonkee at 6:13 AM on October 1, 2021