Be arsed and give it a thorough clean (get it valeted) you can then set a higher asking price/better tools for negotiating.
Good luck.
qh
- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Reply to: Selling car and MOT
Collapse
You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
- You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
- You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
- If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
Logging in...
Previously on "Selling car and MOT"
Collapse
-
Originally posted by northernladuk View Postbut he may try have you over a barrel on price. He is going to know it needs work if you refuse to do the MOT.yeah, that's what I thought.Originally posted by Platypus View PostI'd be surprised if having only 3 weeks left on the current MOT will make any difference to them, although they might try to bid you down
buying a 1 year old car, so hopefully that'll be enough for them not to beast me too much
Leave a comment:
-
Same happened with my first real banger, agreed trade in value of £750Originally posted by vwdan View Post
In my experience, depending on the dealer and the trade in, trade ins are primarily a sweetener to get you to buy the car. I traded in a £500 Fiesta on a £4000 car from a main dealer and they never even looked at it. I mean that literally - we agreed a price and shook on it without them seeing the car in person.
When went to pick up the new car, salesmen started by saying, oh I should never have gave you £750 for that, should have been more like £250. As my face started to go red..... he quickly qualified with "It's ok, I'm not trying to change it, it's out problem"
Leave a comment:
-
If selling to a dealer, they will get in MOT'ed in a jiffy. I'm sure it'll pass with flying colours, courtesy of their local friendly pet MOT place
I'd be surprised if having only 3 weeks left on the current MOT will make any difference to them, although they might try to bid you down
Leave a comment:
-
Last time I traded a car in with a month left on the MOT he didn't bat an eyelid. Was only 2.5k though and he would put it straight through the auction anyway so made no difference. The place I got rid also had an service garage attached so they would just bang it through there at cost. They certainly won't refuse it if it can make them some money but he may try have you over a barrel on price. He is going to know it needs work if you refuse to do the MOT.Originally posted by jmo21 View Post6 years old, worth ~£5500 according to Parkers for trade in, expecting some work needing done with MOT
It was more about the less than month on MOT thing "are they likely to refuse it as a trade in"?
Massively can't be arsed with that though
Traded in a lots of cars in past, they've never wanted to test drive them. Look at them yes, and start the engine. Weird.
Leave a comment:
-
Yes, but only directly to a place of repair or a pre booked MOT - hardly useful, is it? Plus, all of the normal Construction & Use / Road Traffic Act regulations apply, so if you fail the MOT on something that would fall into that category (Lights out, bald tyres, damaged suspension / brakes etc) then you're still breaking the law. Well, in fact, you were breaking the law previously but now the Police can prove you knew which isn't going to look favourable.Originally posted by AtW View PostIt can be driven actually. Legally also.
OP: An MOT costs £30 - 40, I'd just take it and see what happens. A failure of an MOT does not invalidate the old one (though be aware of what I say above about you driving it when you know something is wrong and you don't have to tell them about the failure. They can look it up should they so wish, but ho hum.
In my experience, depending on the dealer and the trade in, trade ins are primarily a sweetener to get you to buy the car. I traded in a £500 Fiesta on a £4000 car from a main dealer and they never even looked at it. I mean that literally - we agreed a price and shook on it without them seeing the car in person.Last edited by vwdan; 6 February 2014, 13:43.
Leave a comment:
-
The test drive was about 30 seconds to the end of the drive and back. Amazingly none of the warnings and faults that had been plaguing me for the months up to this point cropped up then and I got the same as I would have for a car in better condition on webuyanycar.comOriginally posted by jmo21 View PostTraded in a lots of cars in past, they've never wanted to test drive them. Look at them yes, and start the engine. Weird.
Fairly certain the car was worth more as scrap than as a vehicle.
Leave a comment:
-
Car dealers usually sell with a new 12-month MOT anyway, so it's largely irrelevant to them if a traded in car has an MOT. If it needs repairing then they should spot that and factor it into the price, but they can get things done cheaper than you or I so it may not matter much. They only really care that you go ahead with the purchase of the newer car.
If you were selling private, then buyers would run a mile from a car with only 3 weeks of MOT left.
Leave a comment:
-
6 years old, worth ~£5500 according to Parkers for trade in, expecting some work needing done with MOTOriginally posted by northernladuk View PostKinda missing the important decision factors such as how much is the car worth, how old is it, will it pass it's MOT and how much do you want for it.
Can't answer your question on the facts you have given alone.
It was more about the less than month on MOT thing "are they likely to refuse it as a trade in"?
Massively can't be arsed with that thoughOriginally posted by NorthWestPerm2Contr View PostMOT'd and sold privately. Always gets you more than part ex.
Traded in a lots of cars in past, they've never wanted to test drive them. Look at them yes, and start the engine. Weird.Originally posted by Ticktock View PostI traded my car in last year at a car supermarket type place, and in the past I've traded in with main dealers.
They'll want to take a look at your car, they'll want to test drive it. I've never been asked to show the MOT before exchange of paperwork when collecting my new car, and the deal was already done then, it was just making sure we both had all we needed and had signed over the registration.
Of course, you need an MOT to drive your car there to trade it in, so you'd want to get that turned around as quick as you can.
I've always been trading in tulip-heaps in the past, all at least 5-6 years old, so maybe they care more if it's a decent or newer car, I don't know. I don't care. They'll have their own mechanics so don't tend to care unless it falls to pieces as soon as you drive away.
Leave a comment:
-
I traded my car in last year at a car supermarket type place, and in the past I've traded in with main dealers.
They'll want to take a look at your car, they'll want to test drive it. I've never been asked to show the MOT before exchange of paperwork when collecting my new car, and the deal was already done then, it was just making sure we both had all we needed and had signed over the registration.
Of course, you need an MOT to drive your car there to trade it in, so you'd want to get that turned around as quick as you can.
I've always been trading in tulip-heaps in the past, all at least 5-6 years old, so maybe they care more if it's a decent or newer car, I don't know. I don't care. They'll have their own mechanics so don't tend to care unless it falls to pieces as soon as you drive away.
Leave a comment:
-
MOT'd and sold privately. Always gets you more than part ex.Originally posted by jmo21 View PostMy car only has 3 weeks left on its MOT.
I'm planning to trade it in this weekend, personal circumstance has left it this late. Would prefer to get rid before MOT.
While they will likely use this fact to minimise the trade in value, are they likely to refuse it as a trade in?
Should I just get it MOT'd, bite the repairs bullet, few hundred quid probably?
Leave a comment:
-
A car with no MOT is worthless - it can't be driven.
I'd get it MOTed.
Leave a comment:
-
Kinda missing the important decision factors such as how much is the car worth, how old is it, will it pass it's MOT and how much do you want for it.
Can't answer your question on the facts you have given alone.
Leave a comment:
-
Selling car and MOT
My car only has 3 weeks left on its MOT.
I'm planning to trade it in this weekend, personal circumstance has left it this late. Would prefer to get rid before MOT.
While they will likely use this fact to minimise the trade in value, are they likely to refuse it as a trade in?
Should I just get it MOT'd, bite the repairs bullet, few hundred quid probably?Tags: None
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Contractors warned over HMRC charging £3.5 billion too much Yesterday 03:18
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for umbrella company contractors: an April 2026 explainer Feb 5 07:19
- IR35: IT contractors ‘most concerned about off-payroll working rules’ Feb 4 07:11
- Labour’s near-silence on its employment status shakeup is telling, and disappointing Feb 3 07:47
- Business expenses: What IT contractors can and cannot claim from HMRC Jan 30 08:44
- April’s umbrella PAYE risk: how contractors’ end-clients are prepping Jan 29 05:45
- How EV tax changes of 2025-2028 add up for contractor limited company directors Jan 28 08:11
- Under the terms he was shackled by, Ray McCann’s Loan Charge Review probably is a fair resolution Jan 27 08:41
- Contractors, a £25million crackdown on rogue company directors is coming Jan 26 05:02
- How to run a contractor limited company — efficiently. Part one: software Jan 22 23:31

Leave a comment: