A little-known MOT rule could have a significant long-term impact on drivers, potentially backfiring when they come to sell their car. MOT test information is publicly available for every vehicle, with pass and fail reports accessible online. The DVSA openly publishes these reports, allowing prospective buyers to check a vehicle's history before completing a purchase.
While this transparency benefits buyers, it could harm sellers. Vehicles with a history of poor condition or repeated failures may sell for less or not at all. Dan Joyce, operations director and head of the MOT programme for Kwik Fit, explained that buyers will "question" a vehicle's condition if issues appear in the report.
How MOT History Affects Prices
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Dan said: "When a driver comes to sell their car, the MOT record is available for any buyer to see. If a car regularly had lots of minor issues at test time, buyers may question whether it was maintained properly."
"Conversely, a track record of MOT passes with no advisories could indicate the owner made regular checks throughout the year and didn’t wait for the MOT to flag any issues."
Repeated advisories for minor issues like worn tyres or brake pads could lead buyers to negotiate between 5% and 10% off the asking price. However, if the MOT report shows serious problems such as structural rust or suspension failure, sellers could see as much as 20% haggled off the price.
Protecting Your Car's Value
With second-hand cars often selling for thousands of pounds, maintaining a positive MOT history could save owners hundreds in the long run. To ensure a good result, Dan recommends a pre-MOT check.
Dan told Express.co.uk: "A pre-MOT check will also highlight any problems before the current MOT expires, giving drivers enough time to plan in advance for any necessary repairs. That way they won’t be in a position of being unexpectedly left with an illegal car which they can’t use on the road."
