Another run-in with a car dealer

[Pondrew]

I had another run-in with my second least favourite people today (estate agents marginally beat them to number one in my book).

I saw a car I was interested in advertised. So I did the MOT check online and it has no current MOT (expired in September). So I rang the dealer and asked when it was due to be MOTed. The lady said they would MOT it once sold. So I asked if I went to look at the car, how could I test drive it without an MOT? She said on 'trade plates'. I thought this sounded odd, so I said I would ring her back.
I checked and it is illegal to drive any vehicle on the road without a valid MOT without exception (apart from the driving to an MOT station to have it tested).
So I rang back and said that I would view the car if they get it MOTed, as I am not going to break the law for their benefit. The lady said and I quote "We ain't gonna get an MOT just for you to test drive it, so don't bother".

Suffice to say I won't be buying that one. :x

 

[IRD]

That response tells you all you need to know about that garage. Not people I would want to do business with. :thumbsdown:

 

[rdm05z4]

Well, I guess the lady at the dealer buys all her shoes and clothes without trying them on.

 

[mgrlane]

To be honest that's how I bought my E86.

Dealer took me out for a 20 minute drive and then I drove it round an industrial estate. He agreed to MOT it and sort any problems if any came up when I bought it.

I can see things from both sides really.

If I was buying a sh1t box and there is a million other cars to chose from then I would just skip your guy.

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

Give them the appropriate feedback on Facebook or whatever platform they use

 

[Argyll Andy]

Firstly sh!t attitude, they wouldn’t be getting my money either!!!

But, I didn’t realise that you couldn’t drive it on trade plates. I thought, mistakingly obviously, that you’d be covered while using them. I wouldn’t have thought to check tbh. You learn something new every day

The no MOT until POS seems a very common thing now and a hazy recollection of a conversation while viewing a car a while back was that the dealer said almost everyone who buys wants a freshyears MOT on their new purchase so they won’t MOT until a definite buyer is there. Also no outlay for any parts needed until they’ve got your deposit nestling firmly in their bank account.

Still, really sh!tty attitude but I had that several times while trying to buy a new M40i :headbang:

 

[Pondrew]

Firstly sh!t attitude, they wouldn’t be getting my money either!!!

I'm getting used to it TBH.
Every car I've enquired about recently, and I'm talking 3 or 4 years old with low miles, has had something that put me off. Virtually every one has had damaged wheels, most have sellers who couldn't give a toss and one had stains all over the seats which I don't want to even think about how they got there.
Used car prices are sky high (never seen them more) and yet the quality of cars being offered is generally very poor. :x

Starting to wish I had bought the lease car now! :headbang:

 

[buzyg]

The MoT on my daily rot box has run out. Since a kind and gentle man shunted it up the rear. I have it booked in for tomorrow, but your welcome to buy it from me. Sight unseen, un washed and uncared for at this moment. Just send a cheque for more than it"s worth and it"s all yours. :wink:

 

[Pondrew]

[/quote]

The MoT on my daily rot box has run out. Since a kind and gentle man shunted it up the rear. I have it booked in for tomorrow, but your welcome to buy it from me. Sight unseen, un washed and uncared for at this moment. Just send a cheque for more than it"s worth and it"s all yours

Sounds like you've had training from the people I have been speaking to. You only missed out the bit where you have to say "and if you don't want it f*ck off and stop wasting my time". Add that bit and you would make a very good car dealer, Mr G.

 

[buzyg]

The MoT on my daily rot box has run out. Since a kind and gentle man shunted it up the rear. I have it booked in for tomorrow, but your welcome to buy it from me. Sight unseen, un washed and uncared for at this moment. Just send a cheque for more than it"s worth and it"s all yours

Sounds like you've had training from the people I have been speaking to. You only missed out the bit where you have to say "and if you don't want it f*ck off and stop wasting my time". Add that bit and you would make a very good car dealer, Mr G.

So do you want it then, or are you just wasting my time. In which case. F_ off. :wink:

I'm off to get my certificate now. :lol: :evil:

 

[BTZ461]

"Trade plates are used for vehicles in the possession of a motor trader for testing, trialling, demonstrating and / or dismantling"
"And cannot be used on unroadworthy vehicles"
DVLA- Trade Licence Plates and who can use them.

Its long been an accepted practice in the UK motor trade, not sure why you are bashing car dealers, quiet day in the office perhaps?

 

[B21]

"Trade plates are used for vehicles in the possession of a motor trader for testing, trialling, demonstrating and / or dismantling"
"And cannot be used on unroadworthy vehicles"
DVLA- Trade Licence Plates and who can use them.

Its long been an accepted practice in the UK motor trade, not sure why you are bashing car dealers, quiet day in the office perhaps?

To contradict you..

https://www.nfda-uk.co.uk/press-room/newsletter/2019/7/dvla-trade-licence-plates-and-who-can-use-them

If you’re a motor trader or vehicle tester, trade licence plates allow you to carry out your business without registering and taxing every vehicle temporarily in your possession.
Brand new or second-hand vehicles already registered to you must be taxed and cannot be used under this provision.
Trade plates cannot be used on unroadworthy vehicles. All vehicles must be covered by insurance and have a valid MoT in place, unless they are exempt from MoT requirements. All unroadworthy vehicles must be transported.
The law allows an untaxed vehicle to be driven to and from a pre-arranged MoT
without a trade plate. A motor dealer is defined as a person in the business of selling or supplying vehicles. :tumbleweed:

On the other hand if I saw pondrew comimg to me to buy something I’d run a mile :tumbleweed: :rofl:

 

[Pondrew]

Its long been an accepted practice in the UK motor trade, not sure why you are bashing car dealers, quiet day in the office perhaps?

It is illegal for me to test drive that car; simple.
I don't work in an office, either. Thanks to my focus on customer service for 30 years, I retired very early.

 

[Ian J]

It is illegal for me to test drive that car; simple.

I have test driven cars at Sytners on trade plates on many occasions

 

[Argyll Andy]

It is illegal for me to test drive that car; simple.

I have test driven cars at Sytners on trade plates on many occasions

Ian, my guess is they were either too new for an MOT or were currently MOT’d.

The car Pondrew’s talking about wasn’t

 

[Chippie]

Brand new or second-hand vehicles already registered to you must be taxed and cannot be used under this provision.

I think this means if the vehicle is registered to the trader then it can’t be driven on trade plates, a dealer selling cars doesn’t register the vehicle for sale in their name so can be driven without an MOT

 

[B21]

Brand new or second-hand vehicles already registered to you must be taxed and cannot be used under this provision.

I think this means if the vehicle is registered to the trader then it can’t be driven on trade plates, a dealer selling cars doesn’t register the vehicle for sale in their name so can be driven without an MOT

I’ve found several statements from entities such as UK insurers that state you cannot drive a car with trade plates without an MOT unless it’s driving to a MOT station for a pre-arranged test…I’ve not found a single example of the contradiction..have you?

 

[Pondrew]

I’ve found several statements from entities such as UK insurers that state you cannot drive a car with trade plates without an MOT unless it’s driving to a MOT station for a pre-arranged test…I’ve not found a single example of the contradiction..

Exactly! Trade plates do not trump the law, basically. :headbang: :headbang:
The responsibility is also on the driver of the vehicle; therefore in this situation by test driving an unroadworthy vehicle (which is what it is deemed as without an MOT) if stopped, I would be liable for the fine and points.

 

[BTZ461]

Note the trade plate.
XKSS719 loose in the wild and acting like a lawbreaker the shakedown run after restoration, West Sussex.

Sometime we can act a bit like a Ken, and may often be considered a tyrekicker, or a timewaster.

 

[Nanu]

I would report the garage to the DVLA re the misuse of trade plates. They could take them off the garage.