Sell your car without an MOT in 30 seconds
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We buy, no matter the condition
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Scrap your MOT failure in 4 simple steps
Step 1Instant online quote
Enter your reg and postcode to see what your car’s worth. You’ll get an instant price based on your location and can compare options.
Step 2Choose collection date & time
Pick a time that works for you. We’ll connect you with a trusted local yard and schedule the pickup around your availability.
Step 3Free collection
No MOT? No problem. We’ll send a recovery driver to your door at no cost, so there’s no need to risk driving illegally.
Step 4On-the-spot payment
Once your car’s collected, we pay you straight away using a quick, secure payment direct to your bank account.
Join 100,000+ happy sellers across the UK
We’ve been helping people scrap their cars with no MOT for years, with a trusted network of scrap yards and breakers covering every part of the UK. They take all types of vehicles, even those that failed their MOT for major faults, structural issues, or anything in between.
Our platform connects you directly with vetted scrap dealers offering the best prices in your area. It’s fast, secure and built specifically for people who want to get rid of non-MOT cars without the stress or paperwork.
Car.co.uk
We could offer you £729 for your vehicle today.
We buy the cars others won’t touch
Quick Service and Instant Payment
I recently used a car scrapping service and was really impressed with how quick and straightforward the whole process was. From the moment I contacted them, everything was handled professionally. They arranged collection at a time that suited me, and the driver was polite and efficient. What really stood out was how quickly they transferred the payment — the money went straight into my bank account immediately after the car was collected. There was no hassle, no hidden fees, and everything was exactly as promised. If you’re looking for a smooth, no-stress way to scrap your car and get paid on the spot, I’d definitely recommend this service.
⏤ Jen
Verified11/08/2025
We received a very competitive quote…
We received a very competitive quote from Car.co.uk for my car and from the start they were very efficient with their quote which was easy to understand. After accepting their quote they kept me fully informed of the procedure and made it clear and simple. We agreed a collection date and they arrived on time with two polite and helpful driver and assistant and they loaded my car and left very quickly. The agreed price was paid by Car.co.uk and the money was in my Bank before the driver left. I would highly recommend this Company.
⏤ Mr Gibbons
Verified22/08/2025
First class company
There's a very good reason why this company has such a high trust pilot rating, and it's not because of bots or ai fake reviews!! It's nice to leave a good review for a genuinely well run and professional outfit. Firstly , they offer the best price. Secondly , no sucking in of air or false advertising, put in reg, they give you a price, simple.... The pick up driver Shaun was very polite, concise and to the point. From begining to end a good experience, and a well deserved reputation.
⏤ Paul Thorman
Verified19/08/2025
They do what they say they do. Excellent.
I was contacted well in advance regarding the collection of my vehicle. Steve the driver phoned me and asked if he could collect sooner than booked. This was OK with me. When he arrived he was friendly and courteous and because of the advanced notification, gave me time to have everything ready for the handover. The money was transferred to my account within minutes. A great service and one that I would recommend to anyone wanting to dispose of a vehicle.
⏤ Alan Fell
Verified01/08/2025
Excellent service from start to finish
Excellent service from start to finish. Selected the exact day I wanted the vehicle picking up. Had a message on day of collection saying the drivers name and that he was on his way. Within no time he was here and very friendly and professional. Car was loaded and within 2 minutes of paperwork completed the money was in my account.
⏤ Chris Fitton
Verified22/08/2025
Quick Service and Instant Payment
I recently used a car scrapping service and was really impressed with how quick and straightforward the whole process was. From the moment I contacted them, everything was handled professionally. They arranged collection at a time that suited me, and the driver was polite and efficient. What really stood out was how quickly they transferred the payment — the money went straight into my bank account immediately after the car was collected. There was no hassle, no hidden fees, and everything was exactly as promised. If you’re looking for a smooth, no-stress way to scrap your car and get paid on the spot, I’d definitely recommend this service.
⏤ Jen
Verified11/08/2025
We received a very competitive quote…
We received a very competitive quote from Car.co.uk for my car and from the start they were very efficient with their quote which was easy to understand. After accepting their quote they kept me fully informed of the procedure and made it clear and simple. We agreed a collection date and they arrived on time with two polite and helpful driver and assistant and they loaded my car and left very quickly. The agreed price was paid by Car.co.uk and the money was in my Bank before the driver left. I would highly recommend this Company.
⏤ Mr Gibbons
Verified22/08/2025
We’ve got local non-MOT scrap depots nationwide
Wherever you’re based, we’ll match you with a trusted local yard offering strong prices and fast collection. There are hundreds of licensed Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in the UK and sorting through them yourself is a massive pain. We do the legwork (well, our system does), so you don’t have to.
Because our buyers are spread across the country, your quote is tailored to your exact location. In higher-density places like London and Manchester, we even compare offers from multiple yards to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.
Free nationwide collection
Instant online price
Quick cash payment
Official paperwork sorted
Support social value
Instant offer for SORN and expired MOT vehicles
Immediate payment
We buy, no matter the condition
Same day collection available
Non-runner? Write-off? Untaxed? We'll still buy it
We don’t just handle MOT failures and SORN’d vehicles. We take on all kinds of vehicles others won’t touch. Old bangers, non-runners, write-offs, untaxed cars and anything that’s too far gone to sell privately. We’ll still collect it and pay you its scrap value. If your car’s got little or no resale value, we’ll make sure it’s taken off your hands quickly, legally and with zero cost or stress on your end.
Learn more about selling a car without an MOT
Non-MOT car sales: what’s changing in the UK?
After dealing with thousands of cars without MOTs, here’s a fresh update on non‑MOT car regulations and market trends in the UK. Find out what’s changing and how it affects you.
Updated August, 2025
More than half of all scrapped cars are Vauxhall, Ford, Volkswagen, Peugeot, or Renault — brands that also make up a huge share of MOT failures. If your old car is from one of these makes and lacks a valid MOT, it’s a common pattern: owners often choose to sell rather than pay for costly repairs and retesting
[{"tab":"Top 5 car makes scrapped","summary":"More than half of all scrapped cars are Vauxhall, Ford, Volkswagen, Peugeot, or Renault — brands that also make up a huge share of MOT failures. If your old car is from one of these makes and lacks a valid MOT, it’s a common pattern: owners often choose to sell rather than pay for costly repairs and retesting","data":[{"name":"Vauxhall","value":21878},{"name":"Ford","value":19022},{"name":"Volkswagen","value":11068},{"name":"Peugeot","value":9741},{"name":"Renault","value":7557}]},{"tab":"Top 5 car models scrapped","summary":"For high-volume models like the Corsa, Focus, Golf, 207 and Clio, the tipping point is usually when repair costs for an MOT failure exceed the car’s market value. On older versions worth just a few hundred pounds, major fixes like engine, suspension and emissions work make scrapping the more practical choice.","data":[{"name":"Vauxhall Corsa","value":3796},{"name":"Ford Focus","value":3564},{"name":"Volkswagen Golf","value":2005},{"name":"Peugeot 207","value":2815},{"name":"Renault Clio","value":3155}]},{"tab":"Age of cars scrapped","summary":"Most scrapped cars are between 16 and 20 years old, with 18-year-olds the most common. At this stage, even minor MOT failures often aren’t worth repairing since the car’s value is already so low. For vehicles in this age range, scrapping is usually the more cost-effective decision than pursuing another MOT pass.","data":[{"name":"18 years old","value":18197},{"name":"19 years old","value":16669},{"name":"17 years old","value":15104},{"name":"20 years old","value":13718},{"name":"16 years old","value":11262}]},{"tab":"Most common MOT Failures","summary":"A lot of cars don't fail their MOT over catastrophic faults, but rather because of small issues. The main culprit is oil leaks, which are by far the leading MOT failure (nearly double the rate of tyre wear or brake issues). Eventually, those issues pile up until the car just isn’t worth keeping on the road. At that point, it's better to arrange a free pickup and have it scrapped.","data":[{"name":"8.4.1 (a) (i)","value":17315,"label":"Oil leak, but not excessive"},{"name":"5.2.3 (e)","value":9217,"label":"Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge"},{"name":"5.2.3 (e) ","value":9157,"label":"Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge"},{"name":"5.2.3 (e) ","value":5754,"label":"Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge"},{"name":"1.1.14 (a) (ii)","value":5491,"label":"Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened"}]},{"tab":"Average miles of cars scrapped","summary":"The data shows most scrapped cars have well over 100,000 miles. If your car fails an MOT under 100k miles, it’s usually worth repairing unless the fault is major and the car's very old. Once you're past 100k, however, repair costs start to outweigh value, making scrapping the more sensible option in most instances.","data":[{"name":"0-50k miles","value":3821},{"name":"50-75k miles","value":11813},{"name":"75-100k miles","value":27406},{"name":"100-125k miles","value":32909},{"name":"125k+ miles","value":53418}]},{"tab":"Fuel type of cars scrapped","summary":"Petrol and diesel cars make up nearly all scrappage cases, while “other” fuels like EVs and hybrids are almost nonexistent. If your petrol or diesel car fails its MOT, assess its total value. It might be the perfect opportunity to scrap and switch to a more economical hybrid or EV.","data":[{"name":"Petrol","value":75233},{"name":"Diesel","value":56331},{"name":"Other","value":526}]}]
Scrap car statistics across the UK
83.33% MOT-failed vehicles heading to scrap are older manuals, while automatics are only just starting to appear in higher numbers. With more new cars being sold as automatics, this balance will shift in the future.
A Vauxhall Corsa scrapped at just 55 miles almost certainly wasn’t down to an MOT failure (it wouldn’t even have reached its first test!). The more likely reasons are accident damage, fire, flood or a serious manufacturing defect that led to it being written off before it ever became road-legal.
The oldest scrapped vehicle was a 74-year-old 1951 Morris Minor. Since classic cars over 40 years don’t require MOTs, its removal wasn’t due to a test failure. Instead, it was scrapped because it was beyond restoration, lacked parts or simply wasn’t economically viable to keep on the road.
The average scrapped car has a kerb weight of 1,308kg. If your car is heavier than this average and fails its MOT, you could get more for scrap value, since payouts are often based on weight as well as condition.
Your quote = your pay
“Tyres too worn.” “Too far for collection.” Sound familiar? A lot of online car scrappage services start with a great-looking quote, only to chip away at it with excuses. The price you see on our site is the real offer from a licensed ATF. We’ve already factored in the collection and condition. Our system just connects the dots and gets the deal moving instantly.
Because our platform is software-driven, we don’t need to add big margins. The ATFs want your car; they make money by stripping it for parts or recycling it for scrap value. All we do is connect them to motivated sellers and let the tech handle the rest. That’s how we keep your quote high and your involvement low.
FAQs on selling your car without an MOT
Can a garage sell a car without MOT?
100% legal. A garage is allowed to sell a car without an MOT, but here’s the catch: they have to make it crystal clear to the buyer that the MOT is expired or missing. If they don’t, and they try to pass it off as roadworthy, that’s where legal issues come into play.
Once the buyer is informed, it becomes their responsibility to either trailer it home or book an MOT and drive it directly to the test.
Is it illegal to sell a car without MOT?
Nope, it’s not illegal to sell a car without an MOT as long as you're upfront about it. The key thing is disclosure. If you try to pass it off like it has an MOT when it doesn’t, that’s where you run into legal trouble. But if you're honest in the listing and the buyer knows what they’re getting, you're in the clear.
Now, just so you’re aware, the car can’t be driven on public roads unless the buyer is driving it directly to a pre-booked MOT test. That’s the DVLA rule. So if someone’s coming to view or buy the car, it should stay parked unless it’s on private land or being trailered.
Also, from a paperwork angle: you don’t need an MOT to transfer ownership. You’ll still fill out the V5C and go online like normal.
Can I sell a SORN car without MOT?
There’s no law stopping you from selling a car that’s both SORN (declared off-road) and without an MOT. But neither you nor the buyer can drive it on public roads until it's taxed, insured and MOT’d. That means the buyer has to trailer it away or use a collection service.
If the car is in decent condition and just hasn't been used in a while, you might get a private buyer, but be upfront about the SORN and MOT status. On the other hand, if it's an older car, non-runner or needs repairs, most people just scrap it.
Can I sell my car without MOT online?
Absolutely. You can list and sell a car without an MOT online, no problem. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Gumtree allow it. The fastest and easiest way, though, is to have us take it off your hands, handle collection free of charge and pay you instantly.
Will I get less money for a car without MOT?
A car without a valid MOT is basically unroadworthy in the eyes of most buyers, so it limits who’s willing to take it. Most private buyers won’t touch it unless it’s a fixer-upper they want to gamble on. You’re selling it as-is, so expect lower offers or scrap value.
The only exception to this is if the car in question is a high-demand model that just needs the MOT done. In that case, it’s worth getting the test done first to raise your asking price.
Can I part-exchange a car without an MOT?
Some dealers will accept a part-exchange without an MOT, but just know going in that they’re going to value it lower. Why? Because now they have to deal with the MOT, any repairs it might need, and the risk that it won’t pass. That cuts into their margin.
How do I transport a car without an MOT?
You’ve got two options: use a trailer or car transporter (safest and legal) or drive it to a pre-booked MOT test, but ONLY if the car’s roadworthy and doesn’t have any dangerous defects.
There’s no grey area here. Driving a car without an MOT outside of that one exception can get you fined, get the car impounded or worse if there’s an accident.
What documents do I need to sell a car without an MOT?
When you sell your car, you’re going to need the same core documents whether the car has an MOT or not. That includes the V5C logbook (most important), service history, a valid photo ID for both buyer and seller and a receipt or bill of sale with the date, sale amount, buyer/seller details and a “sold as seen with no MOT” confirmation
Is it better to repair or sell without an MOT?
That depends on the car's condition and value.
If the car is worth a decent amount and the repairs are minor or cosmetic, it’s usually worth getting the MOT done. If it’s an older car, has serious mechanical issues or won’t realistically pass without a big repair bill, you’re better off selling it as-is for scrap.
Trying to fix it might cost more than what the car's worth.
Can I sell a car without an MOT if it’s still roadworthy?
Technically, no car is considered road legal without an MOT, even if it’s in great condition. That said, if the car would pass an MOT (i.e. no dangerous defects) then you're in a much stronger position. Buyers can legally drive it to a pre-booked MOT test. So yes, you can sell it, and being “roadworthy” just means they’ll be less nervous about buying and transporting it.
Does selling a car without an MOT affect insurance?
Without a valid MOT, a car can’t be fully insured for road use. The only exception is if it’s being driven to a pre-booked MOT appointment, which is legal and insurable for that one journey. But even then, it’s limited cover.
Can I drive my car without MOT to sell it?
Not on public roads, you can’t. It’s illegal to drive a car without an MOT anywhere except directly to a pre-booked MOT test. That means there’s no taking it to a buyer’s house, no "just around the corner" test drives, nothing. The law’s clear on that.
What’s the best place to sell a car without MOT?
It depends on why it doesn’t have an MOT.
If the MOT’s just expired and the car’s in good shape, drives fine and you’ve just not gotten around to testing it, then your best move is to get the MOT done and sell it privately or to a dealer. That £50 test could bump your selling price by hundreds, if not thousands.
But if the car failed its last MOT and needs major repairs just to pass (e.g. structural damage, airbag lights, brakes, tires, etc.), then having us scrap it for you is your best bet.
The truth is, buyers are cautious. Most won’t touch a car without MOT unless it’s something really desirable or they’re looking for parts. And finding those buyers takes a lot of work if you don’t have the network.
Can a car dealer sell a car without an MOT?
Yes, they can — but only if they’re 100% transparent about it. The car must be clearly advertised as “sold without MOT” or “sold for spares or repairs,” and the buyer has to understand that it’s not roadworthy until it's tested and passed.
That said, most legit dealers don’t sell cars without MOT unless they’re offloading trade-ins, part-ex deals or vehicles intended for trade buyers, mechanics or project cars. If they do, they’ll usually sell them as-is and require the buyer to sign paperwork confirming they understand the condition.
Do I need to tell the buyer there’s no MOT?
You legally have to disclose that the car doesn’t have an MOT if you're selling it. Leaving that out (or letting someone assume it’s MOT'd when it’s not) could land you in trouble for misrepresentation.
Do I need to scrap my car if it has no MOT?
Just because your car doesn’t have an MOT doesn’t mean you have to scrap it. You’ve got a few options. If it’s in decent condition and just out of test, you can book an MOT and get it roadworthy again. If it’s got serious issues, that’s when scrapping makes more sense.
Can I sell a car without an MOT to a private buyer?
You can sell a car without an MOT to a private buyer as long as you’re upfront about the car’s current MOT status. They’ll have to arrange transportation for the vehicle, since they won’t be able to drive off with it.
That said, there really is no reason to hide the car’s MOT status to begin with. It’s free to check the MOT status of any registered vehicle in the UK, and a buyer can do so at any time — all they need is your reg number.
Is it safe to sell a car without an MOT?
It’s safe to sell a car without an MOT if you’re transparent and the car’s condition doesn’t put anyone at risk. If it’s got serious mechanical faults (like faulty brakes or steering) and someone drives it to a test center thinking it’s roadworthy, that’s dangerous.
Can I sell a damaged car without an MOT?
Absolutely. We buy damaged cars all the time. A lot of scrap dealers and salvage buyers will take them off your hands in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
Can I sell a non-runner without an MOT?
You won’t be able to sell it to the average buyer, but scrap services will definitely interested. All you have to do is enter your vehicle registration number and postcode, and we’ll show you what you could get for your your non-runner instantly. You can arrange free pickup within our system, and we’ll pay you instantly upon pickup.
Do buyers still want cars without an MOT?
Some do, but it’s a smaller pool. Mechanics and DIYers looking for fixer-uppers, motor traders who can do the MOT cheaply and flip it, buyers on a tight budget hoping to get a deal and gamble on a pass and scrap or salvage buyers who just want the car for parts or export are all possible buyers for your non-MOT car.
You’ll usually get less money, but if you price it right and are transparent, you’ll still get interest.
Can I sell a car without an MOT to a dealer?
Yes, and plenty of dealers will still take it. Just know that you’ll get a lower offer than if the car had an MOT because the dealer will factor in their repair/MOT costs and margin. For you, though, it’s one of the easiest options. Dealers handle paperwork and collection, and you’re off the hook.
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Car.co.uk, registered in England No. 03143909. Registered Office: New Reg Limited, Unit 5, 117 Liverpool Road, Longton, Preston, PR4 5AA
Car.co.uk is a trading name of New Reg Limited which is Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 626225). New Reg Limited is a loan broker and not a lender. The information contained on this website is for editorial purposes only and not intended as financial advice. New Reg Limited has partnered with Autoguard Group for the purpose of offering car warranties in accordance with the terms and conditions documented on the warranty check-out page.