what to do about an "old" car....

[didds]

Cutting a long story short...

We have on our drive my wife's old car, left over from when she was given her dad's car.

Old car is a 54 plate VW Passat estate TDI. Good runner but aesthetically challenged shall I say. (furl cap broken off, part of front fuseklage (!) missing/dropped off. Just generally shabby looking but mechanically sound.

It is SORN, no insurance and annoyingly I have just learned no MOT.

We wish to sell it - glass's guide or similar suggests £600 for its condition and age and mileage etc, but we'd be happy TBH for anything around the £500 mark. The issue here really is getting it MOTd to do so.

A day's short term insurance is around £28, a week £70. A month's VED is £17.50. MOT charge circa £50. So assuming no work need doing we are up for nearly £100 minimum just to get it MOTd etc (cos obviously the car has to be driven to the MOT station - we don;t have a trailer etc).

Which effectively brings the income form its sale down to a net £400 with hassle etc.
Is there any market for 2nd hand vehicles of 15 years vintrage, no more than a decent runner etc with no MOT ? ie sell it as it is?

didds

[redsturgeon]

Put it on Gumtree, as seen for £500. A sturdy old estate like that is quite a useful vehicle. It will cost you nothing and you will see if there is a local demand at that price.

John

[swill453]

A day's short term insurance is around £28, a week £70. A month's VED is £17.50. MOT charge circa £50. So assuming no work need doing we are up for nearly £100 minimum just to get it MOTd etc (cos obviously the car has to be driven to the MOT station - we don;t have a trailer etc).

You can't tax it without an MOT, so that cost is N/A. Presumably you're allowed to drive it to a pre-booked MOT.

Do you know anyone with any-car insurance that could drive it to the MOT station for you? Or maybe ask if they'll come and collect it for a fee less than your insurance cost?

Scott.

[bungeejumper]

So let me see, a 54 plate would have been one of the last of the 5 series - the 6 series came in in 2006, and I had a 2007 one, and it was very good actually. But the word on the enthusiast forums was that the final 5 series models were even more reliable than the 6 series, because their innards were less tricksy. They had a kind of cult status, in fact.

One two-litre TDI in particular had an in-line engine, instead of the usual transverse lump, and that in turn apparently meant it had a different transmission. My mate had one, and he said it was excellent for towing.

In other words, don't underestimate the buyer appeal!

BJ

[TheMotorcycleBoy]

For that kind of motor, I'd be inclined to stump up to get it to garage, fixed and MOTd.

With a year's ticket I reckon you'll get decent £££ for a TDI like that.

My boss has an 02 ref Skoda TDI with at least 220k on the clock and it's still going strong.

I think it (yours) will still have value to someone.

Matt

[Breelander]

.... A month's VED is £17.50....

You can't tax it without an MOT, so that cost is N/A. Presumably you're allowed to drive it to a pre-booked MOT...

Correct. That was exactly what I did for my classic 60's Mini after I restored it. Insurance was required, but no tax is needed to drive to (and from) a pre-booked MoT (which it passed, BTW).

If you’re taking your car to a pre-booked MOT test, you can drive your vehicle on a road without it being taxed.

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/lega ... tax-guide/

[didds]

aha! So in fact

* pre book MOT
* get insurance for the day (or use a chum with insurance cover to drive it!)
* MOT it.

perfect.

TX everybody!

didds

[Breelander]

...furl cap broken off...

On my 2010 petrol car a faulty seal on the fuel cap was an MOT failure. You may need to fix that before testing. My report from the MOT History site...

Reason(s) for failure

Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer deteriorated (7.2.4c)

[didds]

It's not the "screw in" fuel cap. its the flappy thing that prevents access to it to deter fuel thieves. Its been through several MOTs in this state

If that makes snse.

[Breelander]

It's not the "screw in" fuel cap. its the flappy thing that prevents access to it to deter fuel thieves. Its been through several MOTs in this state

If that makes snse.

That makes sense. Just wanted to make sure you didn't waste your time.

[scotia]

(or use a chum with insurance cover to drive it!)

Is that legal? I have a feeling that the vehicle may require to have (its own) insurance to be on a public road.
But I may be wrong! - Any legal experts out there?
I have a feeling that the Continuous Insurance Enforcement rules introduced in 2011 are relevant.

[didds]

(or use a chum with insurance cover to drive it!)

Is that legal? I have a feeling that the vehicle may require to have (its own) insurance to be on a public road.
But I may be wrong! - Any legal experts out there?
I have a feeling that the Continuous Insurance Enforcement rules introduced in 2011 are relevant.

the suggestion above was that it was with a chum with an "any car insurance."


you'd have to ask that poster.

????????????????


didds

[jfgw]

My understanding is that the car must have its own insurance to be driven or parked on a public road or other public place. An exception is if someone from the garage collects and returns the vehicle using trade plates.

If you require short-term insurance and already have insurance for another vehicle, I suggest getting a quotation from your existing insurer. This may be much cheaper than using a specialist short-term insurer.

Julian F. G. W.

[bungeejumper]

The suggestion above was that it was with a chum with an "any car insurance."

you'd have to ask that poster.

It's been a while since I had any car cover on my insurance, but I remember pretty clearly that I could only drive somebody else's car if it already had valid insurance in its own right.

So, for instance, I could drive my inebriated mate back from the pub in his own car, or I could give my disabled neighbour's car a run around the block to keep it moving. (And did.) But I couldn't work my way through somebody else's yardful of uninsured cars, even if my only purpose was to drive them all very carefully to the scrapyard.

BJ

[Mike88]

Obtaining short terms coverage ignores the point that the car in question could fail the MOT and be in the garage for more than a few days. Cars not used tend to experience faults such as seized brakes, rusted brake discs and battery/charging issues. The cost of repairs, insurance and MOT could well cost in excess of the £500 - £600 the car is worth. My advice would be to find a garage who would be prepared to collect the vehicle on trade plates and take it from there.

[tea42]

As the owner of Rusty my 1980 VW Camper I take him out for a short spin each and every week throughout the year to keep everything operating ticking over nicely and prevent nasty surprises when I want to use him in anger. Over the years I have learned that you must use it or lose it.

[TheMotorcycleBoy]

Regards the brakes and battery.

1. Trickle charge battery overnight
2. Next day make sure it starts, then move it a couple of yards forwards and backwards and exercise the brakes a little.
3. Apply and unapply the handbrake a couple times to make sure its free.

Yes discs do rust, but only a mile if that, of normal driving will scrape it off.

One of our cars had chronic rust on the rears for 6 months (very deep band on outer inch, that sandpaper wouldn't remove!!),but still was powerful enough to pass the braking strength test in the mot. We just received an advisory!

Another one to check is the washwipe fluid, make its clean and topped up and test. Often if the jets are blocked up then fishing line or a needle can clear them.

HTH
Matt

[Gaggsy]

It's not the "screw in" fuel cap. its the flappy thing that prevents access to it to deter fuel thieves.

If you need a replacement I have one in my garage looking for a good home.
I had a 54 plate VW Passat estate TDI Highline. I brushed past the open flap at the petrol station and broke it off. Got a new one, sprayed to match the existing paint, all at great expense, then did it again a few weeks later. The 2nd time I used superglue. Worked a treat. Sold the car but have a spare flap. Metallic graphite blue I think it's called.
If you want it let me know.

Gaggsy

[didds]

That's very kind gaggsy - we have the original flap still. Just never got round to actually glueing it back on! LOL.

cheers anyway

didds

[gryffron]

My local car auction place will collect a car (on a truck), and take it to auction. You get the cash (less fees and collection charge obviously)

All perfectly legal with no need for mot insurance etc

You'll certainly get a better price if you do it up. But if you're looking for a zero hassle option to get rid...

Gryff