Car Selling/Insurance info

cs82

Hope someone can shed some light/advice on this!

I brought my 60-yr-old mum a second-hand car (1995 Honda Civic coupe in very good condition for £800) as a surprise present last year. I thought it would help her with shopping, running errands, just a little run-around. Unfortunately, despite organising refresher driving lessons for her, she just isn't interested in driving and has only used the car twice, so its just been sitting on the drive for most of the year. The MOT was due last week and my mum took it to a Honda garage, where they charged her £600 for repairs and a service. Weird thing is that the car was only likely to fail on the brake pads/discs (they're a bit rusted due to the car is static for so long) but the mechanic just said they should be done within the next 3ish months. I think the Honda garage has just taken advantage of my mum's age and lack of car knowledge, and just conned out of alot of money for repairs that weren't necessary. The main repair was the exhaust but this had previously been replaced 15 months ago (got receipt to prove it), so I really don't think this could have worn away when the car hasn't moved for so long.

Anyway, as my mum isn't interested in driving, I just want to sell the car as its proving more hassle than its worth. As she doesn't have a clue about how to sell it, myself and my boyfriend are prepared to sell it, rather than my mum letting the car go for £200! We live up in West Yorkshire and my mum is down south, so can only think of putting my boyfriend (I haven't yet taken my test) as a named driver on my mum's insurance, so we can drive the car up here and sort it out.

But my folks are relunctant to this idea because:
1. My dad has said, the mechanic told them the car shouldn't be used for long journeys because of the brake pads/discs, so the car wouldn't make the 200 mile trip up north. I brought the car from my friend up here in West Yorks and we drove it down south only last August, so I'm not convinced of this. Surely the Honda garage wouldn't be able to issue the current 1 year MOT, if this was the case?
2. My mum is worried that if my boyfriend is a named driver on her insurance and there's an accident whilst he's driving, then she'll be responsible. If named drivers are in an accident, what are the implications for the main policy holder? (No bothered about the no claims stuff, as my mum isn't likely to need car insurance again or be driving).
3. My mum thinks she has to be physically present when selling the car. I've checked the DVLA website and as far as I can tell she only has to sign her part of the car registration certificate (to transfer the car ownership). Otherwise I really can't think of any other reason why she'd need to be there for selling the car.

I know the car won't make much money because of its age, but it is in very good condition and, as I paid £800 for the car and its just had a £600 MOT and been fully serviced, I just want to try and re-coop back as much as possible. I've paid my mum the £600 for repairs, so I stand to lose £1400. Surely its worth more than my mum letting it go for £200??!

Any help/advice/your perspective would be greatly appreciated!!

anewman

cs82 wrote: »

Weird thing is that the car was only likely to fail on the brake pads/discs (they're a bit rusted due to the car is static for so long) but the mechanic just said they should be done within the next 3ish months.

The rust should clear up on the discs with a bit of hard braking. Surface rust is usual on brake discs. So long as the discs are not warped, cracked, excessively worn or scored they should be fine. Simply wash the car and slight rust will appear, they rust that easy. Pads only really need replacing if there's 2-3mm thickness left, or they're damaged in some way but the latter is unlikely.

cs82 wrote: »

The main repair was the exhaust but this had previously been replaced 15 months ago (got receipt to prove it), so I really don't think this could have worn away when the car hasn't moved for so long.

What tends to happen with exhausts is condensation and water build up inside when the car is standing. If the car is not used, the water stays there and this can cause rust. The only way around this is a full stainless steel exhaust. Sometimes standard exhausts come with a 2 year guarantee so if you have all the documentation it's worth looking into, only problem is the original is disposed of, but if it was a Honda guaranteed one, then my argument would be if they felt it necessary to replace it, then it was obviously faulty and should have been replaced under guarantee.

cs82 wrote: »

1. My dad has said, the mechanic told them the car shouldn't be used for long journeys because of the brake pads/discs, so the car wouldn't make the 200 mile trip up north. I brought the car from my friend up here in West Yorks and we drove it down south only last August, so I'm not convinced of this. Surely the Honda garage wouldn't be able to issue the current 1 year MOT, if this was the case?

The brakes should be fine. Sounds like scaremongering to me to get them to replace the discs and pads needlessly (the you'll die if you don't tactic). Do some hard braking to clear up the rust, it may be juddery and noisy at first but should clear up. You could even buy a can of brake cleaner for a fiver, take the wheels off and spray liberally and leave to dry before setting off.

cs82 wrote: »

2. My mum is worried that if my boyfriend is a named driver on her insurance and there's an accident whilst he's driving, then she'll be responsible. If named drivers are in an accident, what are the implications for the main policy holder? (No bothered about the no claims stuff, as my mum isn't likely to need car insurance again or be driving).

He will be responsible. Another option is for him to get a day's cover in his own name, there are insurers that do this. And it allows your mum to cancel the insurance anbd not worry about it - you just have to make sure the car is kept off the road.

cs82 wrote: »

3. My mum thinks she has to be physically present when selling the car. I've checked the DVLA website and as far as I can tell she only has to sign her part of the car registration certificate (to transfer the car ownership). Otherwise I really can't think of any other reason why she'd need to be there for selling the car.

She could sign it over to you, then you will be the registered owner to sell it. It simply adds one more owner to the number of previous owners and you as the last owner on their V5. It's also another worry off your mum's mind.

You should be able to sell this car for £600 easily, maybe even £800.

cs82

Thanks for your reply anewman.

Yep, I agree with you - I think my mum has a been a victim of extreme scaremongering by the Honda garage (they had the cheek to tell my mum the exhaust needed replacing because it was letting off harmful gases and could be harmful to people in the car if the gases got in side- how on earth these harmful gases would get into the car - god only knows!?!).

When you said my chap could get a day's insurance cover - what insurers do this? I've spent all day on the net looking and haven't had any luck. Also could his one day insurance be with a company different to my mum's? (Hers is Saga but he's only 27, so I'm not sure Saga will give him a good price)

I thought of having the car signed over to me, but am I able to do it (I've only just started my driving lessons)? And then does it have any impact on when my chap gets the one day insurance to drive it up north? Or would it be easier still to have the car signed over to my chap? I don't mind doing that but does it look worse when advertising if the car has more owners??

Good to know I might be able to re-coop more than 500 for it. As I'm a full-time student, money's tight as it is!

anewman

http://www.ecarinsurance.co.uk/ is one place, it says up to 28days so I assume it can do one day. You can get a quote without much hassle on their site anyway.

Probably easier to have it signed over to chaps name so he can drive it up insured and technically owned in his name.

I don't think adding an extra owner on to the car will matter much. If it has only 2 owners at present you could make a quick mention to those interested in buying that it says 3 owners but you're selling on behalf of your mum and it's effectively been only 2. Otherwise not really worth mentioning - as buyers will be more interested in service history and condition - and the receipts from honda will help here.

If you've only just started driving lessons what about sticking it in your driveway (off the road and declared SORN with DVLA instead of taxed) for a couple of months till you pass your test? If you know the car is in good condition it could be a worthwhile choice.

cs82

Thanks for the advice anewman.

See what you mean about the ownership thing. My mum's the only owner at present (although think the car has had 5 owners altogether, including my mum)

Yeh, I thought about keeping it for when I have passed my test because it really is a great car. But I've literally just started my driving lessons and I was planning on going travelling after I've finished uni for a while. So thought it would be a better idea to sell the car now its just got its a year's MOT, been fully serviced and 6 months of tax left too. Plus we don't have a drive where we live up north, only street parking (would that count as a SORN declaration?).

anewman

cs82 wrote: »

Plus we don't have a drive where we live up north, only street parking (would that count as a SORN declaration?).

Unfortunately not, would be classed as on the road and liable to being fined/clamped etc by DVLA.