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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Abandoned car MOT, is it something dodgy?

16 replies

username31839920 · 19/12/2021 04:24

I live a cul de sac with really limited parking. We don't have drives but a communal car park and some people have garages adjacent to the car park. Spaces are limited!

There is a car parked in our car park that hasn't moved for years. There is moss and mould visibly growing on it, the pavement underneath the car is turning green from moss and the car is filled with junk and rubbish. It has irked me for a long time that it is taking up a much needed space and so obviously been left to rot, but I have just ignored it as I own a garage so it doesn't affect me directly.

However after chatting to a neighbour today who mentioned the car and how fed up they are of it I've searched the numberplate on the government tax/MOT website and it is listed as having passed an MOT 2 days ago. And it has apparently done 12k more miles than last year.

The car has 100% not moved since last year!

AIBU to think there is something dodgy going on?

OP posts:
CrumpledCrumpet · 19/12/2021 04:34

No idea about the MOT thing but you should be able to report it to the council as an abandoned vehicle and hopefully get it removed.

Original poster
username31839920 · 19/12/2021 04:38

@CrumpledCrumpet

No idea about the MOT thing but you should be able to report it to the council as an abandoned vehicle and hopefully get it removed.
The weird thing is it is taxed and MOT so they won't do anything unfortunately, even though it has visibly not moved for years and is turning green!
OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 19/12/2021 04:43

My random guess its been cloned.

alexdgr8 · 19/12/2021 04:46

either cloned, or is someone living in it. maybe only at night, so you haven't noticed.
i would report it anyway, try police 101, and council.

19lottie82 · 19/12/2021 05:18

I wouldn’t say cloned but if you know the right person you can get a dodgy MOT for £100…..

Bigassbeebuzzbuzz · 19/12/2021 05:23

This absolutely baffles me. We have someone up my street who has 4 cars like that. Never move but all with MOT
Least they are parked on his drive though just taking up his own space

CalmConfident · 19/12/2021 06:13

Agree with it being cloned. More likely your abandoned one has fake plates on and was dumped after something dodgy and the “real” car is being looked after and driven around still.

newname12345 · 19/12/2021 07:58

If you are bothered you can contact the DVLA and see if they will tell you the registered owner. If my number plate had been cloned I would like to know.

www.gov.uk/request-information-from-dvla

PurpleNebula84 · 19/12/2021 08:09

Is the car park private or public? If it is public, contact your local council and report it as abandoned. They will come and put a 14 day removal notice on it. If the owner doesn't move it or respond, they will then remove it. If it's a completely private car park, I don't think they can, but still worth a call or online enquiry.

Iheartmysmart · 19/12/2021 08:10

Something similar happened here. A car was left in our private car park for months. I checked the registration to see if it was taxed and MOT’d but it came back as not recognised by the DVLA. Reported to the police who were completely uninterested.

Went out shopping one afternoon a few weeks ago, came back and the same car had a different registration number and low and behold a valid MOT and was taxed.

Police still not interested.

EishetChayil · 19/12/2021 08:20

Hire a haulage company to come in the dead of night and dump it in the sea.

Original poster
username31839920 · 19/12/2021 08:47

Thanks everyone, it's a public car park.

Stupid question but with cloned plates would the car still likely match the type/colour on the DVLA site? As everything does match

OP posts:
MegsHollyJolly · 19/12/2021 09:02

Yes we received a fine for 'our' car, same car and our reg plate. It was at the other end of the country, our car had never travelled that far in its lifetime nevermind on that specific date and luckily we were able to prove it couldn't have been us.

newname12345 · 19/12/2021 09:06

@username31839920

Thanks everyone, it's a public car park.

Stupid question but with cloned plates would the car still likely match the type/colour on the DVLA site? As everything does match

That's the whole point of using cloned plates. Less likely to be spotted if everything matches.
MargaretThursday · 19/12/2021 09:52

Why would anyone pay for tax and Mot for years for a car that doesn't go anywhere. It would have to be insured etc too.
It's either cloned or moves more than you think.

Original poster
username31839920 · 19/12/2021 13:42

It definitely hasn't moved for a long, long time I am 100% certain. Wish I could take a pic without outing myself but the tyres are also flat! Will give the DVLA a call tomorrow to report suspected cloned plates, thanks everyone

OP posts:
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