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Is it legal to test drive a car with no MoT if it's on trade plates?

I've seen a car I like with a dealer, however, the MoT expired earlier this month. I've raised this with the dealer who has said they will put a year's MoT on it once it has sold, but that I can test drive it without an MoT because he has trade plates. Is this legal?

Asked on 15 August 2019 by Peter Wright

Answered by Georgia Petrie
"There is no automatic exemption from MoT testing for vehicles used under a trade licence. A vehicle used under a trade licence is only exempt from the MoT testing requirement when driven during or on completion of repairs, or when driven to and from a pre-booked MoT test." So, no. You shouldn't test drive a car with no MoT because it's on trade plates, the only reasons this vehicle can be driven are to/from an MoT or to test the condition of the car when it's undergoing repair work. If caught by the police, you could get into trouble for driving it when you know it doesn't have an MoT.

This info can be found on the official DVLA Application for a first trade licence or additional licences: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upload...f
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