Buying a used car – do you ask for the MOT test number?

[Police State]

Following on from a thread about MOT/vehicle history, I wondered how many of you are aware that you can check a vehicles test history online, here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

Recently, I have rang two different used car dealers to buy a shopping trolley for the Mrs. On both occasions I had the phone eventually put down on me.

1st Experience
Me: Hello there, I am interested in one of your cars on autotrader, blah, blah
Dealer: yes mate, what do you want to know?
Me: I ask a few questions about the general state of the vehicle, service history, etc.
Dealer: Answers questions
Me: Regarding the MOT history, do you have the vehicles last MOT Test certificate number?
Dealer: What do you want that for mate?
Me: I want to just check out it’s MOT history online to get an idea of how the car may have been cared for.
Dealer: hmmm…, err…
Me: I am interested in buying the car (hoping this will prompt him into becoming a salesman)
Him: Well, Faaaaaaark Orf then, and slams the phone down.
 

2nd Experience
Me: Hello there, I am interested in one of your cars on autotrader, blah, blah
Dealer: yes mate, what do you want to know?
Me: I ask a few questions about the general state of the vehicle, service history, etc.
Dealer: Answers questions
Me: Regarding the MOT history, do you have the vehicles last MOT Test certificate number?
Dealer: ok, here’s the number
Me: Goes online, inputs the relevant numbers; draw a blank
Me: Phone back dealer, explain that the number is incorrect
Dealer: recites number again, but this time with the missing digit
Me: Goes online, inputs the relevant numbers a second time; draw a blank
Me: back on the phone; hello sorry to be a pain, but that number is also incorrect. We cross check the number on the phone, we both have the same number.
Dealer: What do you want the number for?
Me: I want to just check out it’s MOT history online to get an idea of how the car may have been cared for.
Dealer: Well that won’t work, you need the vehicles V5 number.
Me: Well it will work, I have done it before.
Him: Hangs up phone.
Me: Redial dealer
Dealer: hello
Me: Hello, I think we had a problem with the phone line
Dealer: Hangs up phone again.
Me: Type posting on pistonheads

Is it just an Essex car dealer thing?, or has anyone else had similar experiences when asking for MOT details. I’m curious to know, so no tales of ‘other’ poor service from car dealers (those have appeared in lots of threads before) , just the MOT History experience.

Edited by Police State on Monday 6th December 22:48

[xr287]

I have never asked for it. Instead I went to view the car and made a note of the number when looking through the paperwork so I could check it later on.

[STW2010]

For the last car I bought the seller had printed the history out from the DVLA and actually had every past MOT certificate too. It was only a few weeks before I bought this car that I knew about the online MOT history checks, but as the seller was only 10 miles away from my house I didn't bother to check before going round.

If I was selling a car I would have no issues with providing this number, and if I when I come to buy another car I would ask for it.

If a seller refused to give me the information I would simply assume that they were hiding something and would move on to the next car.

Edited by STW2010 on Saturday 4th December 16:33

[LS6wetdream]

think i'd be more interested in seeing the cars current condition "in person" as opposed to seeing the past history from the mot test,

2 car dealers have made a judgement call that you're either a tard or a timewaster :S

[Eggman]

It's probably an unusual request so unless they've done it online themselves they'll be wary of it being part of some kind of scam.

A bit like if I asked you to post the number from your driver's licence up on here. "Oo-er! Why does he want that? Not sure. He can get bent, then. Better safe than sorry."

[H_Kan]

When I bought the MX5, I asked the chap if I could use his computer to jump on the net and he was happy enough for me to do so.

[STW2010]

LS6wetdream said:

think i'd be more interested in seeing the cars current condition "in person" as opposed to seeing the past history from the mot test,

2 car dealers have made a judgement call that you're either a tard or a timewaster :S

I disagree. It's infuriating driving miles to view a st heap, when you could have saved time doing some homework.

If I checked the MOT history of a car it would then inform my next questions. For example, suppose there were 4 previous MOT's, with jumps of 20k, 10k, 20k and 30k miles between each one. My next question would be about the service intervals (assuming most cars are due services at 10k or one year)- I would be looking for evidence that the car was well looked after in terms of servicing to schedule, oil changes etc.

Cosmetic condition is one thing, but mechanical care is another.

[mikefacel]

LS6wetdream said:

think i'd be more interested in seeing the cars current condition "in person" as opposed to seeing the past history from the mot test,

2 car dealers have made a judgement call that you 're either a tard or a timewaster :S

might find out that they've clocked the cars by checking the mileages at time of past MOTs.

[Magic919]

I've never asked for it. Reading this I'm inclined not to. Doesn't seem to warmly welcomed.

[POORCARDEALER]

Personally I wouldnt have minded giving you the information, but many will have thought you were going to be a potential pain in the ass moving forward hence the response.

[muckymotor]

I've asked for the V5 number to check the MOT history and mileage and never had a problem.

[Police State]

LS6wetdream said:

think i'd be more interested in seeing the cars current condition "in person" as opposed to seeing the past history from the mot test,

2 car dealers have made a judgement call that you're either a tard or a timewaster :S

Only a 'tard' or an idiot wasting their own time would bother driving 50 miles to buy a car, only to discover that the previous owner ran it on a 50p budget; or that it had a history of 'steering' issues.

[Police State]

POORCARDEALER said:

Personally I wouldnt have minded giving you the information, but many will have thought you were going to be a potential pain in the ass moving forward hence the response.

Then that's a bad judgement call on their part, eh?

[Spy]

I have asked for the number a few times and not had any issues. For me, the reason for checking teh MOTs is not if the car has been cared for (how can you tell from an MOT ???) but to help verify the mileage. When explained that I want to check the mileage online and also do an HPI check, people have been fine.

[4988cc]

Police State said:

POORCARDEALER said:

Personally I wouldnt have minded giving you the information, but many will have thought you were going to be a potential pain in the ass moving forward hence the response.

Then that's a bad judgement call on their part, eh?

I wouldn't have minded giving out either the V5C or MoT cert number to a prospective customer as it's all stuff they would get to see if they were with me in person anyway. I take a customer willing to invest that mnuch time and effort doing their due diligence as someone more seriously interested in the car than the person who rings up with "what's your best price mate?". After all, it's the same due diligence I've put into buying the thing myself - if it was dodgy, then I wouldn't have bought it for stock would I?

But then I've never had anything to hide with any cars I've ever sold...

Edited by 4988cc on Saturday 4th December 17:21

[sparkybean]

From what i have found this is unfortunatly almost standard response. I think the worry is most people dont know what you can do with the number, and would think you are trying to scam them to a certain extent

Edited by sparkybean on Saturday 4th December 17:40

[Police State]

4988cc said:

Police State said:

POORCARDEALER said:

Personally I wouldnt have minded giving you the information, but many will have thought you were going to be a potential pain in the ass moving forward hence the response.

Then that's a bad judgement call on their part, eh?

I wouldn't have minded giving out either the V5C or MoT cert number to a prospective customer as it's all stuff they would get to see if they were with me in person anyway. I take a customer willing to invest that mnuch time and effort doing their due diligence as someone more seriously interested in the car than the person who rings up with "what's your best price mate?". After all, it's the same due diligence I've put into buying the thing myself - if it was dodgy, then I wouldn't have bought it for stock would I?

But then I've never had anything to hide with any cars I've ever sold...

Edited by 4988cc on Saturday 4th December 17:21

You've sussed the profile correctly. He was one sensible answer away (subject to MOT being OK), from me driving over in the morning and putting a few k in his hand for the V5 and keys. I had already looked at a few via the net, and decided this was the one to buy. I have bought expensive cars and cheap cars and in all cases applied the same methodology. I like to make things easy for myself doing it that way; and on the flip side makes it easier for the dealer. I walk in say hello, check the car over; take it for a test drive, and buy the car; simple as that.

[LS6wetdream]

Police State said:

LS6wetdream said:

think i'd be more interested in seeing the cars current condition "in person" as opposed to seeing the past history from the mot test,

2 car dealers have made a judgement call that you're either a tard or a timewaster :S

Only a 'tard' or an idiot wasting their own time would bother driving 50 miles to buy a car, only to discover that the previous owner ran it on a 50p budget; or that it had a history of 'steering' issues.

i'd be interested to see how a "history of steering issues" would read by looking at the mot history, if you cant tell when looking at a car what has received attention, whether it be paint or mechanical when looking at a car (you're not looking at newish cars because you state your checking MOT history) perhaps you can pin your hopes on a AA inspection (other inspection services are available)

[Police State]

LS6wetdream said:

Police State said:

LS6wetdream said:

think i'd be more interested in seeing the cars current condition "in person" as opposed to seeing the past history from the mot test,

2 car dealers have made a judgement call that you're either a tard or a timewaster :S

Only a 'tard' or an idiot wasting their own time would bother driving 50 miles to buy a car, only to discover that the previous owner ran it on a 50p budget; or that it had a history of 'steering' issues.

i'd be interested to see how a "history of steering issues" would read by looking at the mot history, if you cant tell when looking at a car what has received attention, whether it be paint or mechanical when looking at a car (you're not looking at newish cars because you state your checking MOT history) perhaps you can pin your hopes on a AA inspection (other inspection services are available)

Same car; 3 different refusals. (there were a few more ‘advisories’ on the same theme)


Nearside Rear Seat belt flexible stalk deteriorated likely to lead to failure under load
(5.2.4a)
Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Rear Brake pivot has restricted free movement (3.5.1j)
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.A.10)


Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)
Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter insecurely mounted to its housing
(2.5.C.1a)
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)
Offside Front Brake hose twisted (found during steering lock to lock check) (2.2.D.2b)
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.2b)
Rear Brake disc(s) in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1h)
Nearside Front brake juddering severely (3.7.A.2b)
Offside Front brake juddering severely (3.7.A.2b)
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.A.10) **DANGEROUS**


Nearside Rear brake binding (3.7.A.5a)
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.2c)


I'd urge anyone who is interested in buying a used car to ask for the MOT Service No. and check it out online before potentially wasting your time; and if they can't be bothered, then you can always give 'PoorCarDealer' a call... I'm sure he would appreciate the business...

Edited by Police State on Saturday 4th December 18:09

Edited by Police State on Saturday 4th December 21:24

[RB5]

Wondering about this myself, I think I put off a (private) seller today by asking for it.