MOTing an unregistered and un-plated car.
Discussion
About a year ago, I bought a Wolf Land-Rover from a military auction. It came with no plates at all, and is technically unregistered - I have all of the “date in service” paperwork, so registering it should be easy.
However, to register it, I need to have an MOT.
To get an MOT, I need insurance. Having spoken to my insurance broker (Green Light), they can insure it, but the insurance is not valid until it has plates, and it cannot be driven to the MOT station. According to the garage, this is incorrect, I should be able to insure it and drive it there without plates. I could borrow a set of trade plates, but I’m still not insured. Or I could trailer it there, but that involves fixing another Land Rover first.
The chance of me getting nicked on the 4 mile drive to the MOT place is approximately zero, but I don’t fancy nine points for driving uninsured if the worst happens.
Does anyone know the definitive answer to this?
However, to register it, I need to have an MOT.
To get an MOT, I need insurance. Having spoken to my insurance broker (Green Light), they can insure it, but the insurance is not valid until it has plates, and it cannot be driven to the MOT station. According to the garage, this is incorrect, I should be able to insure it and drive it there without plates. I could borrow a set of trade plates, but I’m still not insured. Or I could trailer it there, but that involves fixing another Land Rover first.
The chance of me getting nicked on the 4 mile drive to the MOT place is approximately zero, but I don’t fancy nine points for driving uninsured if the worst happens.
Does anyone know the definitive answer to this?
Unusual situation indeed.
Most insurance companies with experience of covering unusual and exotic cars will provide cover based on a chassis number. I had my old 944 insured on just the chassis number when it had foreign plates on it on a few occasions.
I'd be pushing back at the insurance company. When they say that it needs to have plates to be insured are they saying that this is a legal requirement or a requirement that they have put in?
Most insurance companies with experience of covering unusual and exotic cars will provide cover based on a chassis number. I had my old 944 insured on just the chassis number when it had foreign plates on it on a few occasions.
I'd be pushing back at the insurance company. When they say that it needs to have plates to be insured are they saying that this is a legal requirement or a requirement that they have put in?
Don't borrow trade plates unless the owner employs you for the day.
If you get stopped on trade plates without the trade insurance for those plates then your mate could lose his plates. They are not allowed to be lent out.
Your insurance company should be able to insure it on the Vin number.
If they wont then find another that will.
Or just pay the MOT garage to collect it for you if they have their own plates?
You don't need RFL or MOT to drive to a pre booked MOT, but as you've said, you need insurance.
Don't risk it, fine 6 points, and worse try to get insurance with an IN10 on your licence, you'll be paying a big premium for years.
If you get stopped on trade plates without the trade insurance for those plates then your mate could lose his plates. They are not allowed to be lent out.
Your insurance company should be able to insure it on the Vin number.
If they wont then find another that will.
Or just pay the MOT garage to collect it for you if they have their own plates?
You don't need RFL or MOT to drive to a pre booked MOT, but as you've said, you need insurance.
Don't risk it, fine 6 points, and worse try to get insurance with an IN10 on your licence, you'll be paying a big premium for years.
Trevor555 said:
Don't borrow trade plates unless the owner employs you for the day.
If you get stopped on trade plates without the trade insurance for those plates then your mate could lose his plates. They are not allowed to be lent out.
Your insurance company should be able to insure it on the Vin number.
If they wont then find another that will.
Or just pay the MOT garage to collect it for you if they have their own plates?
You don't need RFL or MOT to drive to a pre booked MOT, but as you've said, you need insurance.
Don't risk it, fine 6 points, and worse try to get insurance with an IN10 on your licence, you'll be paying a big premium for years.
Good post. If you get stopped on trade plates without the trade insurance for those plates then your mate could lose his plates. They are not allowed to be lent out.
Your insurance company should be able to insure it on the Vin number.
If they wont then find another that will.
Or just pay the MOT garage to collect it for you if they have their own plates?
You don't need RFL or MOT to drive to a pre booked MOT, but as you've said, you need insurance.
Don't risk it, fine 6 points, and worse try to get insurance with an IN10 on your licence, you'll be paying a big premium for years.
The test station will need certain information to register the vehicle on the database. Most of this is on the vehicle but you will need to provide a date of first registration.
I went through similar a few years back on a car I imported from Europe.
Insurance company were happy to provide cover based on the chassis number and that together with the Certificate of Conformity (which fortunately I had) provided enough information for the MOT testing station to enter it onto their system. As noted above, assuming you don't have a CoC being ex-military, you will need some form of proof of the date of manufacture. I just printed out the cover note that had the VIN clearly stated on it and carried it with me on the way to the test centre. Funnily enough...on the way there I ended up stopped at traffic lights behind a police car and they didn't even bother to have a word about the lack of any number plates.
Once I had the MOT in place that then allowed me to send off the necessary to DVLA so that they could create the record on their system and issue me with the V5C. Surprisingly simple process for once.
I appreciate that ex-military won't be quite the same as an import but the general process should work in a similar manner
Insurance company were happy to provide cover based on the chassis number and that together with the Certificate of Conformity (which fortunately I had) provided enough information for the MOT testing station to enter it onto their system. As noted above, assuming you don't have a CoC being ex-military, you will need some form of proof of the date of manufacture. I just printed out the cover note that had the VIN clearly stated on it and carried it with me on the way to the test centre. Funnily enough...on the way there I ended up stopped at traffic lights behind a police car and they didn't even bother to have a word about the lack of any number plates.
Once I had the MOT in place that then allowed me to send off the necessary to DVLA so that they could create the record on their system and issue me with the V5C. Surprisingly simple process for once.
I appreciate that ex-military won't be quite the same as an import but the general process should work in a similar manner
jon66 said:
I went through similar a few years back on a car I imported from Europe.
Insurance company were happy to provide cover based on the chassis number and that together with the Certificate of Conformity (which fortunately I had) provided enough information for the MOT testing station to enter it onto their system. As noted above, assuming you don't have a CoC being ex-military, you will need some form of proof of the date of manufacture. I just printed out the cover note that had the VIN clearly stated on it and carried it with me on the way to the test centre. Funnily enough...on the way there I ended up stopped at traffic lights behind a police car and they didn't even bother to have a word about the lack of any number plates.
Once I had the MOT in place that then allowed me to send off the necessary to DVLA so that they could create the record on their system and issue me with the V5C. Surprisingly simple process for once.
I appreciate that ex-military won't be quite the same as an import but the general process should work in a similar manner
I bought a wolf ambulance from withams a few years back, I insured it under the VIN no took it for an MOT then sent off the forms to DVLA.Insurance company were happy to provide cover based on the chassis number and that together with the Certificate of Conformity (which fortunately I had) provided enough information for the MOT testing station to enter it onto their system. As noted above, assuming you don't have a CoC being ex-military, you will need some form of proof of the date of manufacture. I just printed out the cover note that had the VIN clearly stated on it and carried it with me on the way to the test centre. Funnily enough...on the way there I ended up stopped at traffic lights behind a police car and they didn't even bother to have a word about the lack of any number plates.
Once I had the MOT in place that then allowed me to send off the necessary to DVLA so that they could create the record on their system and issue me with the V5C. Surprisingly simple process for once.
I appreciate that ex-military won't be quite the same as an import but the general process should work in a similar manner
it took 3 weeks for the V5 to come back,
it may take longer now.
Thanks for the comments. Everyone who said “find another broker” gets a gold star! Lancaster had no issue insuring on the chassis number, and just want the reg whenever the DVLA can deliver it.
As an aside - insurance is absurdly cheap really. I’m paying £132 for a 110 Defender Wolf, fully comp, SDP+Commuting, 5k miles. When you break that quote down, it’s £49 to the broker, £8.50 IPT, so the insurer is getting about £80 in premium. I wouldn’t take that risk for £80!
As an aside - insurance is absurdly cheap really. I’m paying £132 for a 110 Defender Wolf, fully comp, SDP+Commuting, 5k miles. When you break that quote down, it’s £49 to the broker, £8.50 IPT, so the insurer is getting about £80 in premium. I wouldn’t take that risk for £80!
Trevor555 said:
Don't borrow trade plates unless the owner employs you for the day.
If you get stopped on trade plates without the trade insurance for those plates then your mate could lose his plates. They are not allowed to be lent out.
Your insurance company should be able to insure it on the Vin number.
If they wont then find another that will.
Or just pay the MOT garage to collect it for you if they have their own plates?
You don't need RFL or MOT to drive to a pre booked MOT, but as you've said, you need insurance.
Don't risk it, fine 6 points, and worse try to get insurance with an IN10 on your licence, you'll be paying a big premium for years.
This. My brother imported a car to the UK, and to get it to the MOT he insured it using the VIN. If you get stopped on trade plates without the trade insurance for those plates then your mate could lose his plates. They are not allowed to be lent out.
Your insurance company should be able to insure it on the Vin number.
If they wont then find another that will.
Or just pay the MOT garage to collect it for you if they have their own plates?
You don't need RFL or MOT to drive to a pre booked MOT, but as you've said, you need insurance.
Don't risk it, fine 6 points, and worse try to get insurance with an IN10 on your licence, you'll be paying a big premium for years.
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