Sold a vehicle - buyer now wants me to pay for repairs for MoT

My husband died recently and I have just sold his car. It was taxed and MOT'd for two weeks and the buyer gave me cash, without looking at or testing the vehicle. However, the buyer has now called me to say the car needs £1500 worth of repairs to get it through its next MoT. The buyer has also said he wants me to buy the car back, which I am not prepared to do.

I have said to him that it was up to him to establish the condition before buying as I did know anything about it, but he is still looking to me for recompense. Last year - when we MoT'd the car - there was no mention of rust and just an advisory for a ball joint, which we had done. Can you advise where I stand legally?

Asked on 30 November 2013 by Elsie123

Answered by Honest John
I think you're safe. He would need to either accuse you of selling an unroadworthy car and prove it or take you to court for breach of contract. Before he can accuse you of selling an unroadworthy car, he would need to email or send you a copy of the MoT failure form.

There are other factors to consider too: whether or not the man was a dealer (whether or not he had bought and sold any other cars during the last 6 months: an important question in court), in which case he was required to make a professional judgement of the car before he bought it. And the price he actually paid. If he paid substantially less than the retail price, then he could only expect to get a car worth substantially less.
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