Absolutely, you can scrap a car that has not passed its MOT in Manchester, and sometimes it may be more practical to do so rather than spend money on costly repairs. If your car has not passed its test due to brake problems, rusting, suspension issues, or engine problems, then you may be considering whether it’s worth repairing or if it’s best to simply scrap it. For motorists who are looking for a convenient way to get rid of their car, then we can provide a scrap my car Manchester solution.
Can You Scrap a Car After an MOT Failure?
Of course. In case of a failed MOT, it doesn’t mean that your car is not worth anything. It just means that the car didn’t pass some roadworthiness and environmental standards criteria.
What is crucial here is to understand the reasons for this and how much it will cost you to fix all the problems.
For instance, let’s consider an old 12-year-old Ford Focus with corrosion under the chassis, new tyres needed and a faulty suspension system. Your local garage can give you an estimation of the repairs which will be hard to justify due to the low market value of the car. Moreover, even after repairs, you will never be sure that there won’t be some other problem in several months.
In this case, scrapping the car will be a wiser option. At the same time, if the reason for the failure was something simple like a faulty bulb or some inexpensive repairs, it can be worth fixing the issues. It all depends on the car’s condition, its value and your intentions.
Therefore, before coming to any conclusion, study your MOT report thoroughly.
What Happens When Your Car Fails Its MOT?
An MOT test ensures that the car fulfills the necessary safety and environmental criteria. In the event that the tester finds any serious fault, the vehicle may end up with a major or dangerous fault classification.
Failure can be attributed to:
- Faulty brakes: This could include worn brake pads, faulty discs, among others.
- Tyre defects: Low tread, faulty sidewall or other related faults.
- Suspension issues: These could include worn springs, faulty components, or too much suspension play.
- Structural corrosion: This could occur in the structural parts and may require expensive repairs.
- Faulty lighting: This includes faults in the headlights, brake lights, or indicators.
- Excess emissions: This may show there is some problem in the engine or the exhaust emission control system.
The fact is that not all MOT failures imply that a car needs to be discarded. Nevertheless, when there are a few of them, repair costs may go sky high.
On the other hand, from a purely practical point of view, if a person relies on his car to go to work and spends money on repairs just to find out another flaw during the second test, then he will be very disappointed.
Can I Drive My Car After an MOT Failure?
This is perhaps the most important question to think about before organizing a collection.
Can I drive my car after MOT failure? It really depends on the validity of your current MOT and the presence of any dangerous faults in your car.
As per the official GOV.UK guidelines on MOT test results, you can remove the vehicle from the test if your current MOT is valid and there have been no dangerous defects found during the MOT test. The vehicle needs to be in roadworthy condition.
In case your MOT has expired, you cannot drive the vehicle on the road except under some special cases when you are traveling to a previously arranged MOT test or a garage. In the case of a dangerous defect, you cannot drive the vehicle until the defect is fixed.
For instance, if the reason for failure of the MOT is a dangerous braking system defect, it is better to arrange recovery. Simply driving the vehicle back home just because the distance is less can be risky.
In case you have made a decision to scrap the vehicle, there is no need to drive the vehicle to the scrapyard. Ask the collection agency if it can arrange recovery from your home, office, or garage.
Should You Repair or Scrap an MOT Failure Car?
When you plan to dispose of or sell your car, consider the costs associated instead of solely concentrating on the cost of the repairs.
Following are some points you may want to keep in mind.
1. The Cost of Repairs
Begin with an inquiry into the scope of the work needed. One repair might be affordable, while a number of repairs may become too expensive altogether.
Check the cost of repairs against the car’s value once it is fixed. Scrapping might be the better choice financially if the cost of repairs is almost the same as the value of the car.
2. The Age and Mileage of Your Car
High-mileage older cars can have various worn parts. Fixing a particular worn part may solve the current problem, but the other parts may become worn shortly after that.
This does not imply that all high-mileage cars are worth being scrapped. If it has been taken care of, an old car can still have some years left in it.
3. Your Future Plans
Should you have plans of replacing your car anyway, spending a lot of money repairing it may not be worth it at all. Instead, you would rather invest your money on another car.
But should your car be in good working condition aside from the defect, and the repair cost is low, going for the MOT can still be a better choice.
4. The Vehicle’s Scrap Value
It is possible even a vehicle that cannot pass an MOT test can still be valued based on the recyclable metal content, as well as other working components. The valuation will vary according to its make, model, weight, condition, as well as the specific parts that are needed.
Ask for a quotation first before carrying out any repairs. You will get another price to consider.
How to Sell an MOT Failure Car in Manchester
In case repairs to your car become an economically unfeasible venture, you might consider selling the car to someone who accepts cars with invalid MOT certificates.
People often search online for phrases such as sell MOT failure car, sell my MOT failure car or buy MOT failure cars because they want to understand their options without spending more money on an unwanted vehicle.
It can be a simple process if you have all your facts ready.
Step 1: Explain the Condition Honestly
Let the buyer know that the car did not pass the MOT and let them know the faults found from the report. Let them know of other faults that you may know of, like engine fault lights or even accidents that the car might have been in before.
It is important to be honest to avoid any future misunderstandings.
Step 2: Provide the Vehicle Details
In most cases, it will be necessary to give the registration number, model, mileage estimate, and condition of the vehicle. In case you have a report from MOT test and servicing history, it will be helpful.
This will make it easier for the prospective customer to get a better idea of what he is buying and get an accurate price quote.
Step 3: Compare Your Options
Different buyers may be contacted to see their various offers. Some businesses will buy cars just to get parts from them, while other buyers concentrate on buying scrap metal.
There is a possibility that you may come across offers that say we buy any car MOT failure. But this does not necessarily mean that all buyers accept all types of cars.
Step 4: Arrange Collection if Necessary
In case the car is not safe or legal to be driven, find out from the person buying it whether he has the appropriate recovery equipment to collect the vehicle.
It is especially important in cases where the vehicle is located at your driveway or in a garage, having failed the MOT test. The pickup time and price should be agreed beforehand.
Step 5: Complete the Paperwork
Check that the purchaser is a genuine one and that the car is going into the hands of the right person. In case of scrapping of the vehicle, make sure that an authorized treatment facility (ATF) is used along with getting the right certificate of destruction.
It is necessary that you inform the DVLA about the change in ownership of the car. Do not think that the purchaser will do that for you.
How Much Is an MOT Failure Car Worth?
There is no one set price for a car which has not passed its MOT. Two cars which are the same age can get vastly differing offers as their condition, weight and salvageable parts will vary.
For instance, an old diesel estate which has considerable body corrosion will get a very different price than a small petrol hatchback which has a faulty engine but usable body parts.
The following elements can affect the price offer:
- Vehicle weight: The weight of the vehicle may affect how much recyclable metal there is.
- Make and Model: The popularity of the vehicle’s parts will have an effect on the price.
- Condition: Any accident damage, corrosion or parts missing will affect the price offer.
- Engine and Gearbox: Functional parts may be saleable depending on the demand.
The vehicle should definitely be quoted on before concluding that an MOT failure means the car is completely worthless. It might not be fit for use anymore, but that does not mean it has no value whatsoever when resold or recycled.
When assessing the bids that have been made, see whether the collection is part of the deal and whether the quoted price is the final amount that will be received.
Read our guide too: What Documents Do You Need to Scrap a Car in Manchester? V5C, DVLA & More
Why Choose a Scrap Car Service in Manchester?
In case you fail your MOT, one thing you do not need at this time is something that is difficult to accomplish. You probably have already paid for the test and have also found out that the vehicle is not worth repairing.
By availing of a scrap car service provider within the locality, you may find it easy to get a quote and arrange the collection when possible.
Before you decide to hire a provider, you need to ensure that he or she charges fair prices, is responsive and licensed to operate. You need to find out if the vehicle is going to be collected and if there is a cost for recovery as well as what documents you are going to get.
In addition to that, it will be helpful if the provider gives you time to know about your options before coming to a decision.
Conclusion
Having a faulty MOT test should not necessarily ruin your day since this does not mean that you do not have a usable car and you will need to pay for all the repairs.
Spend enough time to determine the nature of the problem and consider whether it is worthwhile repairing or selling to a suitable buyer who will scrap the car in the best possible way for you.
When you have made the necessary arrangements, contact us at Scrap Car Guys to see what we can offer you regarding the next move for your car.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I scrap my car that is a failure of MOT without fixing it?
Yes. You will be able to sell or scrap your car without fixing the faults that led to the MOT test failure. Should the car be unable to be driven safely and legally, you should arrange for a suitable collection instead of driving the car to the buyer.
2. Can I sell my MOT failure car that doesn’t start?
Yes. Some buyers may still consider buying cars that do not start. Mention the fact that the car is not starting when asking for a quote and ensure that the buyer is capable of collecting the car using the right recovery equipment.
3. Does a scrap car buyer buy failed MOT cars?
There are some buyers who have a specialization for buying cars that failed their MOT, such as cars that have any mechanical fault, corrosion or any accident problem. It depends on the buyer, the car and the condition of the car.
4. Is it worth repairing a failed MOT car?
It will depend on the repair costs of the car and how valuable the car becomes after its repair.
5. Can I leave my vehicle at the garage in case of failure in the MOT test?
It is always possible to discuss with the garage how your vehicle will be stored and collected. Be sure to check out whether there are any charges for storing and how long you are allowed to leave your vehicle there.