Ex M.O.D. to buy or not to buy…?

[The Seer]

I appreciate this is a topic that has been discussed previously but I wondered if opinions had changed in recent times.

I’m looking a 2018 Kia Cee’d with low mileage as a daily driver. It’s an ex MOD car and like most MOD cars, an excellent full service history at a Kia dealer.

I’ve yet to see the car and test drive it and it is a distance from me but the price is very appealing. Question is should I pursue this one or being ex MOD is it very likely to have been driven without mechanical sympathy? It may drive ok on the test drive but may have suffered excessive wear due to a hard life?

[Cylon2007]

If as you say it's low mileage and full service history why would you think it more likely to be a bad buy rather than private/retail???

Just go see it and if it fits the description buy it.

[PoorCarCollector]

The Seer said:

I appreciate this is a topic that has been discussed previously but I wondered if opinions had changed in recent times.

I’m looking a 2018 Kia Cee’d with low mileage as a daily driver. It’s an ex MOD car and like most MOD cars, an excellent full service history at a Kia dealer.

I’ve yet to see the car and test drive it and it is a distance from me but the price is very appealing. Question is should I pursue this one or being ex MOD is it very likely to have been driven without mechanical sympathy? It may drive ok on the test drive but may have suffered excessive wear due to a hard life?

Why would you think this way? Any second hand car could have a hard life, maybe look at buying new if that worries you?

I do know the road tax is higher on the ex-MOD cars, if that is something that would bother you.

[The Seer]

Cylon2007 said:

If as you say it's low mileage and full service history why would you think it more likely to be a bad buy rather than private/retail???

Just go see it and if it fits the description buy it.

I’ve heard ex MOD lead a hard life like rental vehicles

[The Seer]

PoorCarCollector said:

Why would you think this way? Any second hand car could have a hard life, maybe look at buying new if that worries you?

I do know the road tax is higher on the ex-MOD cars, if that is something that would bother you.

I don’t believe the road tax differs from what I’m aware of

[Auto810graphy]

The Seer said:

I’ve heard ex MOD lead a hard life like rental vehicles

Like all cars it depends on the driver and the purpose of the car. Most are very well maintained and may just be in the Motor Transport pool and used to go between sites as a when needed so In theory they may just do occasional long motorway trips. It’s also unlikely road cars will see any form of off road use as there are plenty of more suitable vehicles available.

[DodgyGeezer]

I would imagine that there'd be a awful lot of short trips and, like American cop cars, a lot of static time just spent idling

[The Seer]

Auto810graphy said:

Like all cars it depends on the driver and the purpose of the car. Most are very well maintained and may just be in the Motor Transport pool and used to go between sites as a when needed so In theory they may just do occasional long motorway trips. It’s also unlikely road cars will see any form of off road use as there are plenty of more suitable vehicles available.

Ok, thanks for the incite there perhaps an ex MOD wouldn’t be too bad then

[dai1983]

If it's an MT car then it'll have a system fitted that will warn the driver of excessive cornering, speeding, braking and engine revs etc. it's all recorded and if flagged up the driver may have to explain their poor driving.

Bear in mind a lot of military drivers get fast tracked to their licence and I consider them "aimers" as opposed to "drivers" . Also no sympathy for the vehicle and I wouldn't buy an ex MoD combi van for example.

[hidetheelephants]

Evaluate it as you would any used car; the MOD lease thousands of vehicles, some get abused by neanderthal squaddies, some get driven around by normal people doing normal things, it's pointless to speculate.

[123DWA]

The Seer said:

It’s an ex MOD car and like most MOD cars, an excellent full service history at a Kia dealer.

I haven't bought MOD cars for 5/6 years now (too much faff waiting for new V5's for them) but when I did they were all serviced internally not sent out to dealers.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

The Seer said:

an excellent full service history at a Kia dealer.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395526281248

[Kevin-2g5x2]

I have a registered business as a sole trader and purchased two ex m.o.d. Kia estate cars a couple of months ago out of a batch of approximately thirty 2017-18 cars that came up at Auction. The condition and mileages varied from 24k to 75k as despite all being M.O.D they were based at different locations in the UK and used for different purposes, some had full Kia history and some didn't but as with most 'company' cars under warranty if anything goes wrong you book it in and it gets sorted. As you would when purchasing any vehicle judge each one on it's condition and mileage, fortunately they're Kia diesels which have a good reputation for reliability, you will find however that they have no MOT history on DVLA website other than the current one required to register them as the M.O.D run them on service number plates before disposal and are not subject to MOT requirements as 'normal' cars.
The spec is exactly the same as any other Kia Ceed estate manufactured at that time, mentioned by another poster the only 'hassle' is the time it takes for DVLA to sort out the registration paperwork you have to complete but the selling dealer will have done all that for you beforehand.

[daleos]

Here is my experience of buying an ex- MOD vehicle. Iam still in dispute with the DVLA, any help appreciated.

I purchased an ex – MOD (Ministry of defence) Peugeot 208 Access 1.6 BLUE HDI 75 (DV6FE Euro 6) in March 2023 and found that the VED (Vehicle excise duty) was much higher than expected due to it being incorrectly registered as a PLG (Private light goods vehicle). It is NOT an IMPORT.
After querying this with the dealer, as I had expected it to be lower, they stated that they had attempted to change it with the DVLA but was not having much luck and the process was taking months. We both believed it should be registered as a Diesel car (after all, that is exactly what it is).
The Vehicle was first registered 09/05/2017 by the MOD under a different registration number to the one in which it was registered by the DVLA on 01/01/2023.
Then the saga started and after eight months of toing and frowing with the DVLA, they agreed with me and changed the taxation class to a Diesel car, refunded me for the overpayment and informed me that future VED would now be at the lower cost.
In January 2025, out of the blue, I received a New log book and suspicion arose. On checking, the DVLA had returned the taxation class to PLG, a letter from then followed which stated that the vehicle record had been incorrectly amended.
Confused and unhappy with this, I contacted them again, only to be told that despite providing them with (a Certificate of Conformity, at their request and a cost to me of £200) which details the emissions required to get the lower price VED that this was now NOT acceptable.
They explained that my vehicle should have been tested under the WLTP (Worldwide harmonised vehicle test procedure) in order for it to be classed as a Diesel car vs a PLG (Private light goods vehicle). The COC states that the vehicle was tested under the old NEDC (New European driving cycle) system and the emissions were 90g/km

After doing my homework, I am convinced that they are wrong and my reasons for this are as follows:-

The vehicle is NOT an IMPORT.
The WLTP came into effect in September 2017 and became Mandatory in 2018, yet the vehicle`s first registration was May 2017 which is BEFORE the WLTP test existed.
The Governments own website suggest I should pay the lower band.
The vehicle is ULEZ compliant EURO 6 and there is no congestion charges on the Governments own website.
The Governments own VCA (Vehicle certification agency) also confirms CO2 emissions of 90g/km.
The DVLA guide form states in point 36
36. CO2 (g/km) Take this information from the Certificate of Conformity (the combined figure). This will be the NEDC value or equivalent. For heavy duty vehicles, this should be the specific CO2 value recorded on the Certificate of Conformity.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

123DWA said:

The Seer said:

It’s an ex MOD car and like most MOD cars, an excellent full service history at a Kia dealer.

I haven't bought MOD cars for 5/6 years now (too much faff waiting for new V5's for them) but when I did they were all serviced internally not sent out to dealers.

I purchased one about 15 years ago and this was definitely the case. I remember having to have it insured on the VIN number and then as you say having a faff to get a new plate and V5. I then got pulled over by the police as I forgot to swap this back to the new reg number, luckily he believed me.

It was cheap but was tatty and had led a hard life.

Personally I wouldn't bother again, it wasn't worth the grief.

[RammyMP]

dai1983 said:

If it's an MT car then it'll have a system fitted that will warn the driver of excessive cornering, speeding, braking and engine revs etc. it's all recorded and if flagged up the driver may have to explain their poor driving.

Bear in mind a lot of military drivers get fast tracked to their licence and I consider them "aimers" as opposed to "drivers" . Also no sympathy for the vehicle and I wouldn't buy an ex MoD combi van for example.

Things have moved on since I was in the army then. My unit had a few Talbot mini buses which all had restrictors. The restrictor was basically a metal bar fixed to stop the throttle opening fully. One of the lads, an ex-mechanic, set about the bar with a blow torch to soften the metal and bend the bar allowing the throttle to open more. It worked a treat and the mini buses would then actually move at a reasonable pace.

[Safcsue]

daleos said:

Here is my experience of buying an ex- MOD vehicle. Iam still in dispute with the DVLA, any help appreciated.

I purchased an ex MOD (Ministry of defence) Peugeot 208 Access 1.6 BLUE HDI 75 (DV6FE Euro 6) in March 2023 and found that the VED (Vehicle excise duty) was much higher than expected due to it being incorrectly registered as a PLG (Private light goods vehicle). It is NOT an IMPORT.
After querying this with the dealer, as I had expected it to be lower, they stated that they had attempted to change it with the DVLA but was not having much luck and the process was taking months. We both believed it should be registered as a Diesel car (after all, that is exactly what it is).
The Vehicle was first registered 09/05/2017 by the MOD under a different registration number to the one in which it was registered by the DVLA on 01/01/2023.
Then the saga started and after eight months of toing and frowing with the DVLA, they agreed with me and changed the taxation class to a Diesel car, refunded me for the overpayment and informed me that future VED would now be at the lower cost.
In January 2025, out of the blue, I received a New log book and suspicion arose. On checking, the DVLA had returned the taxation class to PLG, a letter from then followed which stated that the vehicle record had been incorrectly amended.
Confused and unhappy with this, I contacted them again, only to be told that despite providing them with (a Certificate of Conformity, at their request and a cost to me of £200) which details the emissions required to get the lower price VED that this was now NOT acceptable.
They explained that my vehicle should have been tested under the WLTP (Worldwide harmonised vehicle test procedure) in order for it to be classed as a Diesel car vs a PLG (Private light goods vehicle). The COC states that the vehicle was tested under the old NEDC (New European driving cycle) system and the emissions were 90g/km

After doing my homework, I am convinced that they are wrong and my reasons for this are as follows:-

The vehicle is NOT an IMPORT.
The WLTP came into effect in September 2017 and became Mandatory in 2018, yet the vehicle`s first registration was May 2017 which is BEFORE the WLTP test existed.
The Governments own website suggest I should pay the lower band.
The vehicle is ULEZ compliant EURO 6 and there is no congestion charges on the Governments own website.
The Governments own VCA (Vehicle certification agency) also confirms CO2 emissions of 90g/km.
The DVLA guide form states in point 36
36. CO2 (g/km) Take this information from the Certificate of Conformity (the combined figure). This will be the NEDC value or equivalent. For heavy duty vehicles, this should be the specific CO2 value recorded on the Certificate of Conformity.

[Safcsue]

daleos said:

Here is my experience of buying an ex- MOD vehicle. Iam still in dispute with the DVLA, any help appreciated.

I purchased an ex MOD (Ministry of defence) Peugeot 208 Access 1.6 BLUE HDI 75 (DV6FE Euro 6) in March 2023 and found that the VED (Vehicle excise duty) was much higher than expected due to it being incorrectly registered as a PLG (Private light goods vehicle). It is NOT an IMPORT.
After querying this with the dealer, as I had expected it to be lower, they stated that they had attempted to change it with the DVLA but was not having much luck and the process was taking months. We both believed it should be registered as a Diesel car (after all, that is exactly what it is).
The Vehicle was first registered 09/05/2017 by the MOD under a different registration number to the one in which it was registered by the DVLA on 01/01/2023.
Then the saga started and after eight months of toing and frowing with the DVLA, they agreed with me and changed the taxation class to a Diesel car, refunded me for the overpayment and informed me that future VED would now be at the lower cost.
In January 2025, out of the blue, I received a New log book and suspicion arose. On checking, the DVLA had returned the taxation class to PLG, a letter from then followed which stated that the vehicle record had been incorrectly amended.
Confused and unhappy with this, I contacted them again, only to be told that despite providing them with (a Certificate of Conformity, at their request and a cost to me of £200) which details the emissions required to get the lower price VED that this was now NOT acceptable.
They explained that my vehicle should have been tested under the WLTP (Worldwide harmonised vehicle test procedure) in order for it to be classed as a Diesel car vs a PLG (Private light goods vehicle). The COC states that the vehicle was tested under the old NEDC (New European driving cycle) system and the emissions were 90g/km

After doing my homework, I am convinced that they are wrong and my reasons for this are as follows:-

The vehicle is NOT an IMPORT.
The WLTP came into effect in September 2017 and became Mandatory in 2018, yet the vehicle`s first registration was May 2017 which is BEFORE the WLTP test existed.
The Governments own website suggest I should pay the lower band.
The vehicle is ULEZ compliant EURO 6 and there is no congestion charges on the Governments own website.
The Governments own VCA (Vehicle certification agency) also confirms CO2 emissions of 90g/km.
The DVLA guide form states in point 36
36. CO2 (g/km) Take this information from the Certificate of Conformity (the combined figure). This will be the NEDC value or equivalent. For heavy duty vehicles, this should be the specific CO2 value recorded on the Certificate of Conformity.

Hi, I’m in a similar situation but at the stage where the dvla are asking for CoC. I’m reluctant to spend £200 to get one for them at later date to say “sorry but that just isn’t good enough “ so I don’t as wondering if you’d resolved the issue