Buying Ex MoD car please help!

attila_

This is tricky situation and would welcome your views!

I'm just about to buy an ex MoD car off a small dealer with full service history. I've been told that as its MoD for security reasons the plates have been changed and the car has had to be registered with the DVLA again. The dealer has a new V5 log book which shows he is the first owner and the car was first registered in May 2012 (i.e no mention of previous MoD ownership on log book). However the log book also shows another date below the registration date of 2007 which is the date the car was first on the road (this is reflected on the new number plate which is 07).

The issue is the following:
1. Hpi check and car insurance quote do not recognise the number plate saying its not appearing under DVLA database (even though i saw the log book).

2. The service history book and reciepts do not show the new number plate (nor do they show the old MoD one) so I cannot verify this is actually the car's service history and not some con!

3. I would like to phone up the garages where its been stamped for services but without the MoD number plate they won't be able to recognise it.

I'm worried that the car is not appearing as registered according to hpi check or with the insurance.

Anyone come across this before?

marlot

When I bought a car which had new numberplates (not ex MOD), it took a while (a week or two) for the various services to update.

I believe you should be able to run an HPI on the chassis number. Surprised the receipts don't show the old MOD number.

attila_

Thanks i will ask for the VIN number this morning to run a few checks.

On the receipt where it says reg no it have a funny looking code CW which does not look like a reg number so i dismissed it.

The receipt does say LEX Defence on it along with the MoD disposal certificate.

Ivrytwr3

Lex is who we use for all our white fleet vehicle needs (ie non-green vehicles, landrovers etc).

It is completely up to you, but i wouldn't buy an ex-MOD vehicle. They are like Police vehicles, everyone drives like they stole them!

RDG

The mod plates are completely different to a normal number plate the sequence is 2 letters 2 numbers 2 letters so a plate beginning CW is probably correct.

Whether it has been driven hard all depends on the vehicle and where it was used.

System

RDG wrote: »

The mod plates are completely different to a normal number plate the sequence is 2 letters 2 numbers 2 letters so a plate beginning CW is probably correct.

Not for White Fleet vehicles. They have standard type numbers. However LEX Defence have a set of numbers allocated to them and they transfer these to a new vehicle when they get rid of old one.

attila_

Just checked with DVLA and it does exist! Just that hpi take a while to obtain the details.

I wouldn't usually touch ex-police but this one feels like a new car.

NBLondon

This may be a daft question but are you planning on running this vehicle for some years? Otherwise, won't all this look odd to anyone you try and sell it on to e.g. 07 plate but V5 says registered 12. If you then explain the background - many would walk away methinks.

Notmyrealname

attila_ wrote: »

3. I would like to phone up the garages where its been stamped for services but without the MoD number plate they won't be able to recognise it.

That is what the VIN plate is for. On there is a long number which is the chassis number. Quote that instead of the registration plate.

If it has been serviced at dealers then its most likely come from a Territorial Army unit and not a regular army one as they service all their vehicles in house in the main. The good news about it coming from a TA unit is it'll hardly have been used and been serviced based on time rather than mileage so done as it should have been.

Trebor16

Number plates can be changed on any vehicle easily but the VIN is the only constant. An MOD vehicle, if registered on military plates, would not be registered at DVLA. As the age of the vehicle has been proven it has been given an age related registration number by DVLA. It won't take too much difficulty to explain this when the time comes to sell it. Just make sure you keep the supporting docs that come with the vehicle.

forgotmyname

I bought a 1993 rover ex MOD, Registered in 1997. I think it said declared not new or something on the V5?

It had a standard 1993 plate.