Buying a car for scrap with private plate on it.

mike gunnz · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:02

There's a sorry looking 'abandoned' shed of an E36 in one of our company car parks. It's been there for several months certainly since I joined 5 months ago. Its caught my eye because it has a tasty looking private plate on it. The car has no tax and I presume no MOT/insurance.

Ive found out that the owner is also an employee. I want to make him an offer for his car and the plate.

I have no interest in the car - should he sell it to me I'd scrap it immediately, I just want the plate.

What do I need to do and what do I need to be aware of as I've no experience of this scenario?

Theophany · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:05

Why not just make an offer for the plate?

[TW]Fox · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:08

The car needs valid road tax (or tax that has run out within 12 months) to get the plate off it.

mike gunnz · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:10

@Thephany

Well I'm told he cant be asrsed with the hassle of scrapping the car so its sat there rotting. My offer was gonna be to scrap the car for him if he included the plate.

Scrapping the vehicle recoups me some cash and I get to keep the plate.

mike gunnz · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:13

[TW]Fox;24788824 said:
The car needs valid road tax (or tax that has run out within 12 months) to get the plate off it.

So in theory I'd have to buy a minimum of 6 months tax to get the plate off?

[TW]Fox · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:19

mike gunnz said:
So in theory I'd have to buy a minimum of 6 months tax to get the plate off?

If the tax ran out more than 12 months ago, yes. You'll need an MOT for that, too...

[TW]Fox · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:20

mike gunnz said:
Well I'm told he cant be asrsed with the hassle of scrapping the car so its sat there rotting. My offer was gonna be to scrap the car for him if he included the plate.

Why not just buy the car for scrap? The plate will come with it and he'll be less likely to ask for more money..

The plate is 'yours' once you've bought the car.

Theophany · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:22

[TW]Fox;24788824 said:
The car needs valid road tax (or tax that has run out within 12 months) to get the plate off it.

Ah, didn't know that.

mike gunnz said:
@Thephany

Well I'm told he cant be asrsed with the hassle of scrapping the car so its sat there rotting. My offer was gonna be to scrap the car for him if he included the plate.

Scrapping the vehicle recoups me some cash and I get to keep the plate.

Makes sense.

Lopéz · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:44

If the car needs any significant work to pass the MOT then unless the plate is really valuable or significant to you, this will probably be an exercise in futility. A colleague's mother just went through the same with her old 5 series, which had been off the road for years but had a private plate she wanted. It needed several hundred pounds worth of work to get an MOT just to relieve it of it's cherished plate. It wasn't worth the money and effort so she just scrapped it and gave up the plate.

mike gunnz · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:54

Just checked and the tax expired end of Jan '13.

So Fox, all I need to do is buy it, transfer the plate & sell for scrap?

No other costs involved such as having to MOT it or tax it?

mike gunnz · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:58

Lopéz said:
If the car needs any significant work to pass the MOT then unless the plate is really valuable or significant to you, this will probably be an exercise in futility. A colleague's mother just went through the same with her old 5 series, which had been off the road for years but had a private plate she wanted. It needed several hundred pounds worth of work to get an MOT just to relieve it of it's cherished plate. It wasn't worth the money and effort so she just scrapped it and gave up the plate.

I'm slightly confused now (doesn't take much). Tax expired in Jan '13. Do I still need to MOT it?

[TW]Fox · 18 Aug 2013 at 15:06

It's really not confusing.

https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/transferring-a-registration-number

Both vehicles must be:

a) registered with DVLA
b) available for inspection
c) of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate

Pre-1960 vehicles need a valid MOT to transfer a registration number.

Both vehicles should be currently taxed. However, if the vehicle that currently has the registration number is not taxed, you can still apply as long as:

a) the tax disc has run out in the last 12 months
b) there’s no break between the date the tax disc runs out and the start of the SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)

So, the only issue you may have is if the guy didnt bother to declare SORN. If he did, you are good to go.

Clarkey · 18 Aug 2013 at 15:08

What engine and box?

Kenai · 18 Aug 2013 at 15:10

[TW]Fox;24789076 said:
So, the only issue you may have is if the guy didnt bother to declare SORN. If he did, you are good to go.

Why do I get the feeling this won't have happened?

mike gunnz · 18 Aug 2013 at 15:18

Clarkey said:
What engine and box?

320i not sure what box. I'll check shortly.

mike gunnz · 18 Aug 2013 at 15:19

Kenai said:
Why do I get the feeling this won't have happened?

I'm inclined to agree with this statement

Howard · 18 Aug 2013 at 17:15

Went through similar lately with my dad's friend who doesn't drive any more and he has a rusty old Isuzu Trooper on his drive with a fairly valuable private plate. Would need MOTing though which I'm guessing will require a fortune spending to attain. Depends how valuable the plate is.

haaammit · 18 Aug 2013 at 18:40

https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app/enquiry?execution=e1s1
You can see the current status of the vehicle there - might help see if it's been sorn'd or not

mike gunnz · 18 Aug 2013 at 20:19

Thanks for the link.

Surprisingly its showing as Vehicle status: SORN not due. Hopefully that means it has a valid MoT as well?

[TW]Fox · 18 Aug 2013 at 20:22

No, because you don't need a valid MOT to declare SORN.