Sell Your MOT Failure Car in Hexham | Safe Collection + DVLA Protection
Your car failed its MOT in Hexham. The repair quote is £800, £1,200, maybe more. You're thinking: sell it, move on, let someone else deal with it. That's fine—MOT failures are legal to sell. But here's what most Hexham customers don't realize until it's too late: how you sell matters more than what you sell for.
Sell to the wrong buyer and you could face £1,000 DVLA fines, parking tickets for a car you no longer own, speeding fines from someone else driving your old reg, or worse—criminal liability if your car ends up in a ram raid because the buyer never registered it. This isn't scare tactics. We see it monthly in Hexham and across Northumberland.
Real Hexham case (2024): Customer sold MOT failure to cash-for-scrap dealer who promised "we'll handle the paperwork." Three months later: £90 ULEZ fine, £160 parking ticket, £80 SORN penalty. Car was being used in Newcastle unregistered. DVLA still had original owner liable. Total cost: £330 + stress.
Is It Legal to Sell an MOT Failure?
Yes. Completely legal. You must:
- Disclose the MOT failure: Tell buyers it failed and why
- Arrange collection: Car cannot be driven on public roads without valid MOT (except to pre-booked MOT test)
- Complete V5C paperwork: THIS IS WHERE PROBLEMS START (see next section)
The MOT status doesn't make your car unsellable. Dealers, private buyers, and car buying services all purchase MOT failures daily. The issue isn't legality—it's what happens after the sale if paperwork isn't done properly.
The £1,000 DVLA Fine Risk Nobody Warns You About
When you sell a car, you're legally required to notify DVLA within 14 days. Fail to do this and you face a £1,000 fine. But that's just the start.
What happens if the buyer doesn't register it?
You remain the registered keeper. Every fine, penalty, and ticket comes to YOU:
| Penalty Type | Cost | When It Happens |
|---|---|---|
| DVLA late licensing penalty | £80 | Car remains unlicensed/untaxed in your name |
| SORN not declared | £80 (ongoing) | No tax, no SORN = monthly penalties |
| Parking tickets | £60-£130 each | Buyer parks illegally—fine sent to registered keeper (you) |
| Speeding fines | £100 + 3 points | Buyer speeds—Notice of Intended Prosecution sent to you |
| ULEZ/Clean Air Zone charges | £12.50/day (£90 fine if unpaid) | Buyer drives in charging zones—you're billed |
| Criminal liability | Unlimited | Car used in crime—police visit you first |
Real forum cases we've seen:
- MoneySavingExpert forum (2012): Customer sold van for scrap, buyer promised to handle paperwork. Two years of SORN fines followed. Total owed: £1,920. DVLA said "not our problem—you're still registered keeper."
- LegalAdviceUK Reddit (2023): Car scrapped, same-day collection. ULEZ fines 4 hours later for 3 consecutive days. Scrap dealer used car around London before crushing it. Customer liable for £270 in fines.
- PistonHeads forum (2009): Police knocked on door after "scrapped" car used in burglary. Customer had Certificate of Destruction but ATF never notified DVLA. Had to prove innocence.
Why this happens with MOT failures specifically:
Unregistered car use is rampant with MOT failures because:
- Buyer intentionally avoids registration: Some scrap dealers or private buyers want untraceable vehicles for illegal activities (ram raids, drug transport, fly-tipping trucks)
- Buyer promises registration, never does it: Laziness or incompetence—either way, you're liable
- ATF fails to notify DVLA: Authorised Treatment Facilities should issue Certificate of Destruction and notify DVLA. Many don't.
The Scrap Dealer Trap: Why "Cash-for-Scrap" Isn't Worth the Risk
You'll see adverts: "Scrap Cars Wanted—Cash Paid—Same Day Collection." Tempting. Quick money, car gone, problem solved. But here's what they don't tell you:
Cash payments are illegal (Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013)
Accepting cash for scrap metal (including cars) has been illegal since 2013. All payments must be traceable (bank transfer or cheque). This law exists to prevent stolen car laundering.
Red flag: If a scrap dealer offers cash on collection, they're unlicensed and operating illegally. They won't complete DVLA paperwork either.
Fly-tipping and abandonment epidemic
UK fly-tipping incidents topped 1 million in 2023-24 (£100m+ council cleanup costs). Cars and car parts make up a huge percentage. Cowboy scrap dealers collect MOT failures, strip valuable parts (engine, cat converter), then dump the rest at roadsides, lay-bys, or rural Northumberland lanes.
Penalties if your car is fly-tipped:
- Fly-tipping fine: £1,000 fixed penalty (up from £400 in 2023)
- Vehicle abandonment fine: £2,500 + possible 3-month prison sentence
- Environmental Protection Act 1990 violation: Unlimited fine + up to 5 years prison for worst offenders
Your liability: Even if someone else dumped it, you're liable if you didn't check buyer credentials. Wiltshire Council: "You can be fined or taken to court if your waste is dumped illegally, even if someone else did it on your behalf."
How to spot dodgy scrap dealers:
- Offers cash payment
- No fixed business address (just mobile number)
- Won't provide ATF license number
- Doesn't mention Certificate of Destruction
- Wants V5C logbook but won't complete V5C/2 section with you
- Rushes collection ("we'll be there in 30 minutes")
Why Hexham Customers Choose Us (It's Not the Price)
We're honest about this: we're not a scrapping company, and we won't offer the highest price. If you want maximum cash for your MOT failure, private sale or specialist scrap dealers will pay more.
So why do Hexham customers use us? Safety and paperwork protection.
What we do that scrap dealers don't:
- Complete V5C/2 section immediately: We fill it in with you at collection, send it to DVLA registered post same day. You get proof of posting.
- Digital payment trail: Bank transfer within 24-48 hours (never cash). Traceable, legal, safe.
- Dispose of cars responsibly: We're not ATF-licensed, but we work with registered disposal partners. Cars don't end up dumped in Hexham fields.
- Give you DVLA confirmation: We provide written confirmation that V5C/2 was posted, so you have evidence if any issues arise.
- Same-day Hexham collection: Across Northumberland—Hexham, Corbridge, Haydon Bridge, Haltwhistle, Allendale—usually within 4-6 hours of agreement.
What this means for you:
Zero risk of:
- £1,000 DVLA fines (we handle notification)
- Parking tickets from unregistered use (V5C/2 sent immediately)
- SORN penalties (DVLA knows car transferred)
- Criminal liability (car doesn't end up in wrong hands)
- Fly-tipping prosecution (responsible disposal partners)
Is it worth £50-£100 less than a scrap dealer to avoid potential £1,000+ in fines and months of stress? Our customers think so.
Our Hexham MOT Failure Process
1. Get instant valuation
Enter reg + condition on our site. We give you a realistic price based on scrap value + salvageable parts. Transparent—no inflated quotes that drop at collection.
2. Accept offer, arrange collection
Same-day slots available across Hexham and Northumberland. We collect from home, garage, MOT center—wherever it failed.
3. At collection: V5C/2 completed together
This is the critical step: We complete the V5C/2 section (yellow slip) WITH you, take a photo for your records, and send it to DVLA registered post from Hexham Post Office that day. You get proof of posting receipt.
4. Payment within 24-48 hours
Bank transfer. Legal, traceable, safe. No cash, no checks that bounce.
5. Disposal confirmation (optional)
If you want extra peace of mind, we can provide disposal partner confirmation once car is processed.
Hexham advantage: We're local. If any DVLA issues arise (they won't, but if), you can visit us in person. Try doing that with a cash-for-scrap mobile number.
What About Authorised Treatment Facilities?
ATFs are the safest legal route for scrapping. They:
- Recycle 95%+ of vehicle mass (legal requirement)
- Dispose of hazardous fluids safely (oil, coolant, brake fluid)
- Issue Certificate of Destruction
- Notify DVLA automatically (in theory)
The problem: ATFs don't always notify DVLA. Forum cases show customers with Certificates of Destruction still receiving fines because ATF never filed paperwork. You're left proving innocence.
Our recommendation: If using an ATF, always complete V5C/2 section yourself and send it to DVLA. Don't rely on them. Get proof of posting.
Common MOT Failures We Buy in Hexham
2022-23 MOT data shows 27.7% of tested vehicles fail (1.6m out of 7.3m). Top failure reasons:
- 18% Lights: Bulbs, wiring, headlight alignment
- 12% Suspension: Worn bushes, damaged springs, shock absorbers
- 10% Brakes: Pads, discs, brake fluid, handbrake
- 7% Tyres: Tread depth under 1.6mm, sidewall damage
- 7% Windscreen: Cracks, chips in driver's view
- 4% Exhaust: Leaks, emissions failures
- 3% Steering: Power steering leaks, worn components
We buy all MOT failures regardless of reason. Minor fixes or major mechanical faults—doesn't matter.
Ready to Sell Your MOT Failure Safely?
Hexham same-day collection + DVLA protection
Not the highest price, but zero risk of fines, tickets, or unregistered vehicle misuse. Get your instant valuation or call us to discuss your MOT failure.