If your van has failed its MOT — or you’ve simply let the MOT expire — you might be worried it’s now worthless. The truth is, you can sell a van without an MOT in the UK, but the process comes with some rules and considerations.

In this article, we’ll cover the legal side, the practical challenges, and the best ways to get a fair price.

Can You Sell a Van Without an MOT?

Yes — selling a van without an MOT is completely legal in the UK. There’s no law saying a vehicle must have a valid MOT to be sold.

However, there are two important caveats:

1. You must be honest about the MOT status. Hiding it from the buyer could land you in legal trouble.

2. The buyer can’t drive it away. Without an MOT, a van isn’t road legal (except when being driven directly to a pre-booked MOT test).

This means most buyers will expect collection on a trailer or by a recovery service — something we handle for you at Sell My Broken Van.

Does a Failed MOT Mean Your Van Is Worthless?

Not at all. In fact, plenty of buyers are interested in MOT failures:

• Mechanics and traders may see easy fixes and quick profit.

• Export buyers might ship vans overseas, where MOT standards don’t apply.

• Parts resellers value engines, gearboxes, and other working components.

Your van may be worth more than scrapping, even if it failed on costly repairs like suspension, emissions, or rust.

For more insights, check our guide: We Buy Any Van… Even Broken Ones!.

Common MOT Failure Scenarios

Here are a few examples of vans we regularly see sold without MOTs:

• Rust or corrosion on the chassis – expensive to repair, often not worth it.

• Emissions failures – tricky and costly with older diesel vans.

• Worn brakes, tyres, or suspension – not roadworthy, but easily fixable for a mechanic.

• Electrical faults – warning lights or ECU issues that deter private buyers.

Even in these cases, there’s a buyer out there — the trick is finding them.

Challenges of Selling a Van Without MOT Privately

If you go down the private route (Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, etc.), expect some hurdles:

• Lowball offers from buyers who assume it’s scrap.

• Timewasters asking endless questions without real intent.

• Logistics issues (how will they collect it without MOT?).

• Safety concerns with payments.

That’s why many people choose a specialist service like ours — it saves time and avoids hassle.

For comparison, see: What Are the Best Ways to Sell My Van? Our Complete Guide.

The Best Way to Sell a Van Without MOT

The most reliable option is to use a dedicated buyer service:

• Sell My Broken Van will buy your van even if it has no MOT.

• We collect it for free anywhere in the UK.

• You get a secure instant payment before the van is taken away.

• No dealing with tyre-kickers, no advertising, no wasted weekends.

Maximising Your Price for an MOT-less Van

To get the best price, follow these steps:

1. Be upfront about the MOT status — honesty builds trust.

2. Highlight the positives: service history, good tyres, low mileage, working parts.

3. Present it well — a clean van and decent photos make a big difference.

4. Gather all paperwork — here’s our checklist.

Final Thoughts

Selling a van without an MOT doesn’t mean you have to scrap it or give it away. It’s legal, and with the right approach, it can still be profitable.

👉 Get a free instant valuation today at Sell My Broken Van and see how much your van is worth — MOT or no MOT.

For a bigger picture, check out our Ultimate Guide to Selling a Broken Van in the UK.