Selling a car with no MOT and in need of some work

chipfork

My car has been barely used since the start of Covid, for the last year it's only had one journey of around 100 miles and then been sat. So, I have let the MOT lapse and have it declared under a SORN. I don't really have the time or money to invest in getting an MOT and on the inevitable repairs.

Is there much money in an aging car without an MOT and if so who would be worth approaching?

For some added context, it's a 2008 Mercedes Coupe with a 3.2 diesel engine. I have some service history, the last time around I replaced the oil, filters, brake discs and pads. It runs well but there is a problem with the foot brake which the garage couldn't solve but somehow got it through the last MOT. There's little things that just need time and a decent space to work, which I don't have.

For an aging diesel, strangely ULEZ compliant, worth very little, is there any point in the investment, simply to improve the resale value? 

Flight3287462

Anyone looking at this car is taking on an unknown and will be looking for a bargain probably to flip.  The only way to get any real money for it is with an MOT at the bare minimum.  Big engine will also be a negative.

Why not MOT it and see how it fares then decide how to proceed?

prowla

The thing is that the buyer will have to cover the costs of transporting it to their location, getting the MOT done, and taking the risk of things needing to be fixed for it.

If it's been sat for a year, it may need a new battery and there's the stated issue with the brakes.

chipfork

Flight3287462 said:

Anyone looking at this car is taking on an unknown and will be looking for a bargain probably to flip.  The only way to get any real money for it is with an MOT at the bare minimum.  Big engine will also be a negative.

Why not MOT it and see how it fares then decide how to proceed?

That's probably the best option. I'm keen to move the car on with as little effort and expense as possible so was looking at a scrapper/breaker or a car buying service. I would guess though that the money I would get for the car could be quite a difference between something MOT'd and something that might be broken.

My guess based on condition is that it's worth around £2k and that an offer with MOT from someone like the "we buy" services will be near half that. 

chrisw

chipfork said:

Flight3287462 said:

Anyone looking at this car is taking on an unknown and will be looking for a bargain probably to flip.  The only way to get any real money for it is with an MOT at the bare minimum.  Big engine will also be a negative.

Why not MOT it and see how it fares then decide how to proceed?

My guess based on condition is that it's worth around £2k and that an offer with MOT from someone like the "we buy" services will be near half that. 

I would guess that the car buying services would only give you scrap value at most without an MOT.

Flight3287462

Even if it fails an MOT it gives a potential buyer a starting point, especially if its clean and tidy.

Herzlos

Stick it on eBay/Facebook/Gumtree with an honest account of the issues and see what happens. Someone will pay you more than scrap money for it to take it away, possibly to strip it for parts.

The other option is to have a look for an owners club and see if there's any interest in it as a whole or in parts.

Grumpy_chap

ULEZ-compliant car.
Does it start?
If you can get an MOT, you'll get more for it.
If you can't get an MOT, someone would still buy it for a punt.

chipfork

Grumpy_chap said:

ULEZ-compliant car.
Does it start?
If you can get an MOT, you'll get more for it.
If you can't get an MOT, someone would still buy it for a punt.

Bizarrely, for a 3.2 diesel it is ULEZ compliant. I checked before we took it to London a year or two back and had to enter the ULEZ zone. It starts and runs well.
For the age, mileage and condition it's worth around £1,200 so I don't want to invest in any significant work to get it through the MOT. The parking brake which I have looked at needs work. The last garage couldn't resolve it properly.

It sounds like the MOT is worth a punt and then from there, understand the cost to get it through and whether it's financially viable based on a return.