Selling MOT failed car, buyer wants to export to Africa...

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IKZ4

Member
In a bit of an odd situation and would welcome your thoughts. As a favour I advertised my neighbours MOT failed 2003 Almera on e-bay as spares or repair. Bidding got to £500 and I've just had a call off the guy that won it. He wants to collect it on Tuesday and then drive it back to Northampton (150 miles) as he wants to export it to Africa later this week. Bizarre!!!

I'm extremely wary about this, it just sounds odd. He assures me that despite no MOT it's legal to drive on the road as he has trade insurance, is this true? He then asked if the car was safe to drive, I said not sure as it failed on rust. It honestly doesn't seem worth the hassle for someone to travel 300 miles round trip to buy an MOT failure. I'm loathe to cancel the transaction as my neighbour just wants the car gone, but my spidey-senses are feeling that this is odd.

Advice appreciated, cheers
 
I wouldn't think that you could drive an MOT failure on the road unless it's booked in to an MOT station for a re-test, however that's his problem, take the money and let him go is my advice :thumbsup:
 
Darren Slone said:
I wouldn't think that you could drive an MOT failure on the road unless it's booked in to an MOT station for a re-test, however that's his problem, take the money and let him go is my advice :thumbsup:
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Absolutely correct;trade or not.You can only drive it to a pre-booked appointment at a local MOT testing station.
 
Cash only, no cheques, no bank drafts, nothing else will do.

Don't agree to pay for anything to facilitate the sale / export.

Make sure you get his name and address with proof of ID and the V5 (signed by you and the buyer) goes to the DVLA and not with him, so how's he going to get it out of the country? One would have thought that a V5 was a necessity to export a car in this day and age.

Unless he is going to just drive it on a ferry and hope it gets him to Africa :?

Buying cars for export is often a scam technique and Africa raises immediate concerns. Be very very wary IMHO
 
sounds like utter male cow manure to me . doubt he will ever turn up .
his next move will be some sort of bank transfer scam when "sorry i can't make it tuesday but i will send someone later in week "
his first contact /story with you is just building trust before he does a jimmy savile on your bank account
 
No doubt you will get a cheque, electronic transfer or other payment method and a 'complication' over the buyer's customer/export duties/shipping cost etc then typically involving you appearing to receive much more money than expected in advance from him (BTW it's a dodgy financial instrument).
Guess what happens next? Oh he can't collect because of some drama, can you pay his collection agent with the excess money you received when the agent arrives to take the car to the docks. You lose your car and pay for the privilege of shipping it abroad. :cry:

They pick sellers who are deperate or simply can't believe that some dumb-ass from Africa is willing to buy a knackered car and spend £1k-£2k to ship it :rofl:
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/nigerian-scams.htm
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/advice/2010/07/safety-and-security/car-export-scams
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/safety_and_security/safety_and_security_faqs.jsp
 
fonejacker_george_agdgdgwngo_2.jpg
 
Sounds dodgy to me. If he does turn up I would insist on cash only, no Paypal as they pay then claim it back saying you hadn't given them the goods. Well known scam.
 
Frightened the 'buyer' away, asked him for ID to complete the DVLA V5 form. Sounded dodgy from the start, glad he didn't come to my house!!
 
IKZ4 said:
Frightened the 'buyer' away, asked him for ID to complete the DVLA V5 form. Sounded dodgy from the start, glad he didn't come to my house!!
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Good on ya, generally your gut instinct is the correct one!
 
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