Bought car with no MOT, buyer wants to keep plate?

[Boobonman]

Hi folks, quick question. I have bought a car on eBay, and the MOT has expired in the last week or so. The car is currently wearing a cherished plate which the owner would like to keep, am I right in thinking that the car must have a current MOT in order for him to transfer the plate off it? I want to pick the car up sooner rather than later, and it is my intention to MOT it when I get it home, however it is a sub £500 car so it if fails I don't intend on throwing piles of money at it to get it through.

If the current owner wants to keep the plate is he going to have to MOT the vehicle himself in order to effect the transfer?

[Loplop]

Yep.

[Boobonman]

Loplop said:

Yep.

I thought that might be the case, poor guy sounds pretty clueless about the whole process TBH.