Our garage told us recently that it is highly unlikely that our ageing (but much needed) vehicle will pass another MOT – it scraped through with advisory notices that mean it will be unviable to do the required body and suspension repairs for the next MOT due summer 2011. This is a great worry to us – the existing vehicle is probably only worth a few hundred pounds (it is 18-19 years old.)
Would it be best to explain this to the OR and request that an allowance is built into the expenditure projections to say allow for a replacement vehicle (maybe costing around £1 - £1.5K) or is this out of the question and we should try subject to available cash {bit of a joke this option!) to change the car before declaring BR?
You won't be allowed an allowance within your I&E to buy another car. You really have two options:
- Keep the current car and then when the repairs are needed next year you can contact the OR and see if they can change your I&E to allow for the repairs to be paid.
- Use the money you would normally be paying creditors to buy another car. You would need to be very careful if you chose this option as the OR looks very closely at people who spend money knowing that they are declaring BR.
Personally, I would choose the first option and keep your current car as you don't want to start off on the wrong foot with the OR. During your interview you could mention the problems with the car and ask if you could have a higher allowance for the Servicing/MoT. I was allowed £25 per month for my car but if you could get a higher amount (£40) then this would give you £500 towards the repairs next year or towards another car if you needed to buy one.
When to change our ageing car?
Posted - 25 July 2010 : 01:50:37
