Ready to buy, ready to fly!

cormie

Hi,
I've my eye on a van in the UK. I've a chance to get it at a decent enough price and don't want to wait around incase it's gone (as I've been looking for one like it for weeks now!). There's a chance I may have to go and get it on Tuesday morning. Now I've brought back a similar van before and it's only the 50 VRT and all which is great, but just looking for a bit of advice.

The seller sounds honest enough but it's got pretty low mileage for the year, he gave a good reason which is fair enough, but I saw another thread here where HPI checks were vowed as essential. Now the van has just passed the MOT so this mightn't be too necessary really but it's not taxed.

The seller said he could get 6 months tax for £100 for it and then I could claim this back if I do it early enough?

Either that or I risk getting caught driving it back to Holyhead.

So I'm just wondering, would it be possible for him to sort out Tax on Monday and have it for Tuesday with the UK system and does anyone know where I could get a quick HPI check done with immediate results?

Also, any other last minute things I should be aware of please share! Oh and what about the Volcano? How are trips to the UK on Tuesday looking and ferry trips back?

Any feedback appreciated

rebel.ranter

There are lots of instant ways to do background checks on a vehicle in the UK
www.hpicheck.co.uk, cartell.ie, theaa.ie etc.

I drove a car from London to Fishguard without tax but if I had my time over I would have insisted it was taxed.

As for travel the ferries will run independently if what happens with the volcano. The flights may be cancelled given the current predicted wind direction but ot also depends on the volcano activity.
I got held up by a day this week in France due to the volcano, it was unpredictable to say the least.

R.O.R

It's been a while since I taxed a car in the UK, and it was always a car and not a commercial, but I'm sure it's just a case of taking the V5, Insurance Certificate and MOT to the local post office.

They do the disc there and then for you, so it should be possible to tax on Monday unless things have changed in the last 13 years.

cormie

Thanks for the replies! That sounds good so! Does anyone know anything about getting the money back on the tax though? Would prefer not to pay £100 for what will be 5 hours of driving

So all I need for the HPI check is a reg yeah? I mean the owner isn't notified or anything? Does the HPI check disclose the true mileage or anything? It's coming direct from a company, it has their sign writing on it still so it seems pretty genuine so far!

listermint

cormie wrote: »

Thanks for the replies! That sounds good so! Does anyone know anything about getting the money back on the tax though? Would prefer not to pay £100 for what will be 5 hours of driving

So all I need for the HPI check is a reg yeah? I mean the owner isn't notified or anything? Does the HPI check disclose the true mileage or anything? It's coming direct from a company, it has their sign writing on it still so it seems pretty genuine so far!

The HPI check will ask you to enter current mileage as stated on vehicle and warn you if the mileage is wrong and show what it should be. Insure you check the VIN number also as this will come up in the HPI. It will show if there is outstanding finance / any registered insurance accidents and also registration changes over the course of the vehicles life.

I would never buy in the UK without completing one of these first.

R.O.R

If all is legit with the Van, the seller should have no issue with giving you the document reference number from the V5. That number (sorry - have no idea what the number relates to, or where it is on the V5) combined with the reg number can be used here:
http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-Internet-History-Request.jsp

for a free check.

dirtydiesel

Log on to the dvla website, it has good info on exporting a vehicle from the uk and info on tax etc.

cormie

Thanks again for the replies. I think this is the info I need for applying for tax refund: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_10012526

I might ask your man if he'd be willing to do it himself. Could just make a copy of the tax disc and he keep it himself, the ANPR's should be able to detect it's taxed anyway, so maybe not a problem? Or I could just post it back to him once I drive it over.

That's a great link ROR, I'll give him a ring tomorrow and see how cooperative he is and if it's all good I might pop over on Tuesday!

JHMEG

You have only a tiny chance of being stopped on the way to the ferry and if you do show them your ferry booking. Worked for me.

cormie

Are they not clamping down on it at the port though? I mean they have police at the port a lot of the time for this very reason I thought? To catch people driving with no tax?..

cormie

Actually could somebody quickly remind me of what I've to do once I hit the Irish shores? Get it weighed first thing, then go to VRT place in Tallaght, is that right? Or do I go to VRT place first and just need the weigh docket for the DOE after? Do I need to bring any forms or information or ID to the VRT place? My memory aint the best jaysus I only did it last year myself!

cormie

He had no problem giving me the ref number to check that, however, the Van is a 01 first registered in October, but the MOT tests on that page only go back to 2006? Is this when they starting recording them online or is there something else I'm not aware of? Why would the van not have been done prior to that

Also, the bonnet on the one I'm looking for is green and I note that on one of the MOT's, they've actually mentioned this change. I want it to be white, which I'll probably just get my sign writer to cover over the green in Vinyl with, how should I approach this with regards to taxing it etc or is a bonnet not enough to warrant a mention of colour on Irish records?

Any help appreciated

cormie

Hmm, I think the company who do the MOT and the company who are selling the van may be connected. Could this spell trouble for possible clocking?

Curious as to why the MOT only goes back to 2006 and each year since then it's only had about 5K miles put on it..

R.O.R

MOT's were only computerised in 05, so the one in 06 might be the first after that.

Not sure on the bonnet colour - if it's being wrapped you shouldn't have to mention a green bonnet.

The mileage may be low if it's a delivery van only doing local stuff. We have 1 big van / truck on rent to Intel. It does about 2 miles a day and never goes outside the compound, but carries loads between 2 locations. Will be very low mileage, but I'd probably prefer something higher mileage that's had a decent run every now and then.

cormie

That's good to know about them only being computerised in 05! thanks a lot!

Here's the details from the MOT site anyway, I've *** out all the ID details but if anyone sees anything suspicious such as "there's no way it could have developed that problem after that amount of miles etc etc" please share:D

Most Recent Vehicle Details and Test Summary applicable to this Registration Certificate document reference number.
Registration mark:
********
Make/Model:
FORD / TRANSIT
Colour:
WHITE
Approximate date of first use:
09/10/2001


Date of test:
11/03/2010
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:
80,781 Miles
Test expiry date:
10/03/2011
*

Full Test History, starting with first recorded vehicle and test results
*

Registration mark:
*******
Make/Model:
FORD / TRANSIT
Colour:
WHITE
VIN/Chassis No:
***********
Approximate date of first use:
09/10/2001
Type of fuel:
Diesel
*

Date of test:
12/05/2006
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:
67,486 Miles
Test number:
**********
Test station name:
******** MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
********
Test station telephone number:
********
Test class:
VII
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
All position lamps not in good working order (not working) (1.1.4a)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1f)
Offside Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1f)
*

Date of test:
12/05/2006
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:
67,486 Miles
Test number:
************
Test station name:
******** MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
************
Test station telephone number:
************
Test class:
VII
Test expiry date:
11/05/2007
No Advisory Notice issued
*

Date of test:
30/04/2007
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:
73,840 Miles
Test number:
************
Test station name:
*********** MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
*********
Test station telephone number:
***********
Test class:
VII
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Advisory Notice issued
Nearside Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn (3.5.1h)
Offside Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn (3.5.1h)
*

Change of details
Colour:
WHITE / GREEN recorded at time of test on 30/04/2007
*

Date of test:
30/04/2007
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:
Not recorded
Test number:
************
Test station name:
************ MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
**************
Test station telephone number:
*************
Test class:
VII
Test expiry date:
11/05/2008
No Advisory Notice issued
*

Date of test:
30/04/2007
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:
73,840 Miles
Test number:
*************
Test station name:
************ MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
************
Test station telephone number:
************
Test class:
VII
Test expiry date:
11/05/2008
No Advisory Notice issued
*

Date of test:
25/05/2007
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:
74,632 Miles
Test number:
**********
Test station name:
************ MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
*************
Test station telephone number:
***********
Test class:
VII
Test expiry date:
24/05/2008
No Advisory Notice issued
*

Date of test:
31/01/2008
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:
75,905 Miles
Test number:
**********
Test station name:
********** MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
*********
Test station telephone number:
**********
Test class:
VII
Test expiry date:
30/01/2009
Advisory Notice issued
Front Brake disc(s) slightly worn (3.5.1h)
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.3)
*

Date of test:
12/12/2008
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:
77,114 Miles
Test number:
************
Test station name:
********** MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
************
Test station telephone number:
***************
Test class:
VII
Test expiry date:
11/12/2009
Advisory Notice issued
Front Brake disc(s) slightly pitted (3.5.1h)
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1f)
*

Date of test:
01/03/2010
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:
80,781 Miles
Test number:
**********
Test station name:
************** MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
**************
Test station telephone number:
***********
Test class:
VII
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.3)
Center exhaust Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2a)
No Advisory Notice issued
*

Change of details
Colour:
WHITE recorded at time of test on 01/03/2010
*

Date of test:
11/03/2010
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:
80,781 Miles
Test number:
*********
Test station name:
********** MOT CENTRE
Test station number:
************
Test station telephone number:
*********
Test class:
VII
Test expiry date:
10/03/2011
No Advisory Notice issued
*

This completes the test history for the above vehicle as recorded on VOSA's MOT Computerisation Database

cormie

Flight booked anyway

Van better be ok! Does anyone know if Ryanair still joke with their "gate closing" time and the time the gat closes is actually the stated time of departure? Would I be pushing it arriving at the airport at 5:50 if my flight is at 6:35?

If anyone could refresh my memory (I opened my van door on my own head today so mine isn't the best :P) on the procedure once I get home it would be great.

Is it:
1) Go to VRT office in Tallaght (closest to me)
2) Get REG plates
3) Weight docket
4) DOE
5) Tax (damn, just remembered now that that's more money!)

Do I need any forms for VRT office again or do I just fill things out there? The V5 I should take obviously, anything else?