Part exchange before or after MOT?

njp28

I need a new car within the next 4 months, as our family is expanding and we need a bigger car. My current car is due for it's MOT in about 3 weeks and I need to decide whether to part exchange it now, or put it through it's MOT and keep it for another couple of months.

I know it needs some exhaust repairs, I was quoted £150 a couple of months ago by a garage I trust. It's been getting through the last couple of MOTs with minimal things needing doing. I paid around £400 for engine repairs a couple of years ago and was told it was running great then. It's currently 10 years old.

By the end of the month, I'm expecting to have paid around £200 for the MOT, unless there are any nasty surprises but I also have to re-tax it for 6 months for £120.

Is it worth doing this, will it give me a better part exchange value that justifies me paying a minimum of £320 on it for the next couple of months? Or should I try to just part exchange it now and get the car I need to get soon anyway?

To put money into perspective, the car I need to upgrade to, I only need for approx 18 months (as at least one child will have fleed to uni by then). I have been made redundant so am not looking to buy a flash car as an upgrade. I know what model of car I want and what age, and I'm planning to buy one for about £800-£1000 more than my part exchange value, having found a few online.

motorguy

Why do you need to change the car? Could you not run on at it for those 18 months?

Assuming there is an overriding reason, then I would MOT it, tax it if you need to to continue driving it, but make it clear to the dealer that you're reclaiming the tax before trading it in.

One thing i would say is that the £1000 or so you are thinking of buying is only going to buy you another car roughly worth the same as yours. You'll be paying that £1000 as the dealer gross margin on your new car.

njp28

I need it because we need more seats in the car. I'm getting a 6 seater. I know I won't be getting a better car, I'm being made redundant and I can't afford to upgrade to a newer car, I'm going to keep it for the 18 months until the eldest leaves, then hopefully I'll have found a job after maternity leave and will get a better car then. I can't run the one I've got now, because there are not enough seats for the family.

So you think it's worth paying at least £200 for the MOT and then part exchanging it in a couple of months instead? Getting a new MOT cert will increase the part ex value by more than £200?

motorguy

njp28 wrote: »

I need it because we need more seats in the car. I'm getting a 6 seater. I know I won't be getting a better car, I'm being made redundant and I can't afford to upgrade to a newer car, I'm going to keep it for the 18 months until the eldest leaves, then hopefully I'll have found a job after maternity leave and will get a better car then. I can't run the one I've got now, because there are not enough seats for the family.

So you think it's worth paying at least £200 for the MOT and then part exchanging it in a couple of months instead? Getting a new MOT cert will increase the part ex value by more than £200?

There will be a perception in the trade that you are trading it in with no MOT because it needs a fortune spent on it.

Therefore i would MOT it. Should easily be worth the extra.

njp28

That's what I was wondering, I just didn't want to waste the money MOTing it if I wasn't going to get a better part ex deal for it.

Thanks for your input!

specialboy

For a car in that price range you will probably be better off putting 12 months mot on it and selling it privately, you will get more than trade in price.

PasturesNew

Can't you pack the eldest child off with the bus fare, smile and say "meet you there" when you need everybody in the car ?

njp28

Pastures, if I could I would, especially since she already has a weekly ticket bought for school travel. Unfortunately, the public transport service isn't that great for all the places we go to. It's frustrating because we don't go out daily as a family, but enough to warrant a bigger car.

Special boy, that's a good point. I'm not overly confident on selling and worry about timelines, leaving us without a car if I sell before I buy. Or don't sell soon after buying and need the cash for other things. I'll give it some thought though, especially if I get offered a low part ex value.

Hintza

Don't do any work and stick it in for an MOT next week you then have 10 days to decide whether it is worth spending the money and getting it back for a re-test. It will help clarify the issue if nothing else.

Will get more if you sell it privately too.