AA Vehicle Inspection or MOT to have a potential car purchase checked out?

united4ever

Went to look at a second hand Toyota Avenis today. 2006, automatic, 60 000 miles for £2800.


Now then there was a couple of dents on the side which the salesman explained was the reason it was 'keenly priced'.


After a test drive I said I'd think about it but told them my plan is to use the AA to do their checks (they charge £142).


The salesman asked if he could give some advice and went on to say why don't you just pay £50 for an MOT. He said the AA checks don't even look under the car but the MOT would be cheaper and would give me an MOT and it is after all a certificate of road worthiness so what we need.


My question is this: Do the AA checks reveal something more than what an MOT would? I'm thinking if there was still finance owing or the history of the car in terms of crashes etc etc?


Thanks in advance. I am a car novice by the way and don't have any contacts in the trade to do me a favour.

AdrianC

The AA inspection includes much more than an MOT does.
http://www.theaa.com/vehicle-inspections/index.html#tabview%3Dtab2

An MOT is just a bare minimum of once-a-year roadworthiness. No more, no less.

scotsbob

united4ever wrote: »

it is after all a certificate of road worthiness so what we need.

Exactly that is all the MOT is. A Certificate to say your car is fit to be on the road. That does not mean it doesn't have any faults.

shaun_from_Africa

The car could pass an MOT but have the following (amongst many others):
4 tyres with 1.6mm of tread meaning replacements will be needed very shortly,
A totally knackered spare,
Radio not working,
Heated rear window not working,
Front fog light not working,
Rev counter not working,
etc

How long is the current MOT valid for?

It's also worth checking the previous MOT history to see what advisories were given when the last test was carried out.
http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-Internet-History-Request.jsp
All you need is the registration number and the previous MOT number or V5C number. Ask the salesman for one of these and if they refuse, you have to ask yourself why.

forgotmyname

The car can have many faults and still pass an MOT.

If they choose a place where they drive in and out in one direction they may not even use reverse gear.

Taking a car for an MOT on a really wet day to hide leaks. And arrive just in time to drive straight in.

The clutch and alternator or battery maybe on their last legs and will still pass.

As long as it drives in and out..

If you just want to know that its legal to use on the road and can do any other work yourself then carry on and just MOT it.

colino

May I humbly suggest, before spending 5% of the cost of the car on a useless ticklist, that the AA (or their similar RAC cousin) will not stand by legally, that you check the extensive list of things excluded from their "inspection" and lengthy details of what they do not cover.
If you are not confident in checking the car over yourself or don't have a mate to do it for you, pay a local, friendly, recommended garage to do it for you. Or even better, buy a car off of them instead of this giffermatic.

burlington6

Don't waste your money. If you use the AA or RAC you will never buy a car. They'd condem a new car just to save their own skin

Norman_Castle

For £2800 I would expect a new mot. An mot test is a safety and emissions test. Nothing more. Do not rely on it when buying a car.

My question is this: Do the AA checks reveal something more than what an MOT would? I'm thinking if there was still finance owing or the history of the car in terms of crashes etc etc?

A hpi check should show this.

zaax

If a car salesman said that I would walk away very quickly

Geodark

Norman_Castle wrote: »

For £2800 I would expect a new mot. An mot test is a safety and emissions test. Nothing more. Do not rely on it when buying a car.

A hpi check should show this.

An HPI check would only show a crash if an insurance claim was made, I could bump my car and repair it without notifying the insurance then when I sold the car nothing would appear on the HPI check

facade

Get the AA check. It could save you £2800. If it passes 100% you have piece of mind for 5% of the cost of the car.

Can you pay a small holding deposit to keep the car subject to purchase if the AA report is favourable?
They will find things like crash damage & oil leaks that you wouldn't spot yourself unless you really know what you are doing.

An MOT is only £30 if you shop around, and the car has to have a valid one when sold anyway..

The dealer will have hpi'd it on purchase for about £1.50 at dealers bulk rates, so you are wasting money hpi'ing again.