Can anybody help me?

[barbarama]

My husband has left his 1977 Mark 4 in the garage for over 20 years, it is SORN'd and it is no longer driveable, although there wasn't much wrong with it when it first went into the garage. It has a personalised registration plate. He wants to sell the plate, which should fetch a good price, but can't tax the car, so would presumably have to declare it as written off? Is this right? And once written off, would he be able to sell the car to someone who wants one to restore? (They'd have to collect it on a trailer).

Is this right? What are the pitfalls?

 

[Amy Wade]

You mustn't scrap the car before transferring the registration, if you do the registration number will be lost. Unfortunately you will need to get an MOT on it before you can transfer the number to another vehicle or retention certificate. 

https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/take-private-number-off

[Howard]

The rules require the car to be MOT'd to transfer a number

Eligibility

The vehicle must:

• be registered with DVLA in the UK
• be able to move under its own power
• be of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate
• be available for inspection - DVLA will contact you if they need to inspect your vehicle
• have been taxed or had a SORN in place continuously for the past 5 years
• be taxed currently or have a SORN in place - if it’s had a SORN in place for more than 5 years, it must be taxed and have an MOT certificate

If you have a historic (classic) vehicle you’ll also need a current MOT certificate, even if your vehicle is usually exempt from MOTs.

[thescrapman]

It should be quite possible to get it back on the road for less than the plate is worth I would have thought.

But whatever you do, do NOT contact them in advance in any way what-so-ever.

There lies loads of pain.

[barbarama]

There is no way I can get an MOT without having the car restored. I can't restore it myself, so how do I find someone to do it?

[djw113uk]

Where abouts are you? It might be worth someone having a look to evaluate how much work would need doing! 

[thescrapman]

There is a major difference between having a car restored and getting an MOT on a car.

you only want the latter.

It will need to be a pukka one, as there is a chance it will need to be inspected if the DVLA perceive the plate has value.

 

[Dannyb]

How about some pictures of the car (cover up number plate) may get some idea how much work is needed.

Danny

[JohnD]

Barbarama,

Many small independent garages will be MoT inspection sites.    Find one/some and ask them for an estimate to get the MoT, emphasising that you do not want restoration.   That would get you a ball park figure for the work.   if you Google "mobile MoT", you'll see a list of MoT testers who will collect your car, take to the test station (they really need a lift and brake tester, so can't do it at your home) and return the car, for a fee, of course, although some advertise free collection.

At the same time, contact your local Club Triumph Area Group. See:  Groups - Club Triumph Ltd    One of their members might be willing to do the same estimate, to ensure you're not being ripped off!   After all, this project might save another Triumph from the scrapper, even if it loses its original reg number.

John

Edited February 8, 2023 by JohnD