Find out if a car has MOT without access to the V5?

[va1o]

So I've found a car that I might buy unseen, but I've got no idea if it has MOT and the vendor doesn't have the documents. I'm hoping to be able to drive it the 160 miles back but although RFL and Insurance is easy enough to sort the MOT could be a stumbling block.

Is there any way to find out with just the registration number?

[rallycross]

not really.

you will need v5 ref number (or mot certificate number if doing a VOSA mot history check).

[va1o]

There really needs to be a better system for this

Just wasted an entire day and the best part of £200 getting said car low-loaded half way across the country to me, then after a rummage through the service book and manual its turns out the fker had a valid MOT all along. Frustrated is an understatement...

[aw51 121565]

Not as frustrated as you'll be when you read on -->

You could have booked an MoT for the car local to your place then - assuming you'd insured it - driven it back legally without MoT or tax (based on the assumptions you made when buying it) .



Sorry!

[simon1987]

Yep, most mot stations will do a sly one if you explain first.



I know people who have bought "projects" and agreed with an mot station to buy a mot slot half price that they can sell out at full price just incase they get a pull on the way back.

[Mr2Mike]

va1o said:

So I've found a car that I might buy unseen, but I've got no idea if it has MOT and the vendor doesn't have the documents. I'm hoping to be able to drive it the 160 miles back but although RFL and Insurance is easy enough to sort the MOT could be a stumbling block.

Out of interest how were you planning on getting VED without a V5 or MOT certificate?