Would you report a UK plated SORN car being used abroad?

Would you report a UK plated SORN car being used abroad?

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Discussion

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

240 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
A friend of mine had a bit of an incident with a UK plated car where I live in Spain. His car has Spanish plates a while there was no major damage (a bit of polish buffed out the ding), we found out the car is SORN'd in the UK and it hasn't even had an MOT since 2012.

He was apparently very cagey about the accident and was insistent on resolving it with cash although nothing was needed in the end and both went on their way. Short of the long is, there is no way he has any sort of insurance. (You can't insure a UK car in Spain without an MOT)

The question is, this guy is clearly a liability and I see him driving his car most mornings on my way to work so would you report him? If so to who? The local police or DVLA and leave them to take care of the mess? Otherwise would you just leave him to it? He's obviously got away with it for almost 2 years now.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
beanbag said:
A friend of mine had a bit of an incident with a UK plated car where I live in Spain. His car has Spanish plates a while there was no major damage (a bit of polish buffed out the ding), we found out the car is SORN'd in the UK and it hasn't even had an MOT since 2012.
So he hasn't paid the tax. So what? Does he need a UK MOT on a car with Spanish plates in Spain?

beanbag said:
He was apparently very cagey about the accident and was insistent on resolving it with cash although nothing was needed in the end and both went on their way. Short of the long is, there is no way he has any sort of insurance. (You can't insure a UK car in Spain without an MOT)
Non-story? No damage, no insurance involvement? Your statement about him having no insurance is entirely guesswork on your part.

beanbag said:
The question is, this guy is clearly a liability and I see him driving his car most mornings on my way to work so would you report him? If so to who? The local police or DVLA and leave them to take care of the mess? Otherwise would you just leave him to it? He's obviously got away with it for almost 2 years now.
Why is he clearly a liability? What benefit would you get from grassing him up?

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
Just tell him if he doesn't sort it out you will grass him up, if you feel that strongly about it.


beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

240 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
OpulentBob said:
beanbag said:
A friend of mine had a bit of an incident with a UK plated car where I live in Spain. His car has Spanish plates a while there was no major damage (a bit of polish buffed out the ding), we found out the car is SORN'd in the UK and it hasn't even had an MOT since 2012.
So he hasn't paid the tax. So what? Does he need a UK MOT on a car with Spanish plates in Spain?

beanbag said:
He was apparently very cagey about the accident and was insistent on resolving it with cash although nothing was needed in the end and both went on their way. Short of the long is, there is no way he has any sort of insurance. (You can't insure a UK car in Spain without an MOT)
Non-story? No damage, no insurance involvement? Your statement about him having no insurance is entirely guesswork on your part.

beanbag said:
The question is, this guy is clearly a liability and I see him driving his car most mornings on my way to work so would you report him? If so to who? The local police or DVLA and leave them to take care of the mess? Otherwise would you just leave him to it? He's obviously got away with it for almost 2 years now.
Why is he clearly a liability? What benefit would you get from grassing him up?
I know about insurance in Spain and while you can insure a UK plated car in Spain, you cannot do so without a valid MOT or while the vehicle is SORN'd. So even if he did have insurance, it would be invalid.

My point is, what's your feeling to uninsured drivers? Are you happy for them to get away with it until the unthinkable happens or do you feel it's ok to cheat the system as long as you can?

I'm in two minds about this.

ETA: Read my initial post again. This is about somebody driving in Spain with UK plates. Not Spanish ones. rolleyes

All that jazz

7,632 posts

145 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
beanbag said:
ETA: Read my initial post again. This is about somebody driving in Spain with UK plates. Not Spanish ones. rolleyes
beanbag said:
His car has Spanish plates
rolleyes

And my 2p is that you should mind your own business instead of sticking your fat oar into other folks'.

maffski

1,866 posts

158 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
All that jazz said:
beanbag said:
ETA: Read my initial post again. This is about somebody driving in Spain with UK plates. Not Spanish ones. rolleyes
beanbag said:
His car has Spanish plates
rolleyes

And my 2p is that you should mind your own business instead of sticking your fat oar into other folks'.
I think it's badly written - his friend has a car on Spanish plates, it was hit by a non friend's car which is registered in the UK and SORN'd.

I'd say it's your friends business if he chooses to report the other driver or not. Would much actually get done about it?

Corpulent Tosser

5,459 posts

244 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
All that jazz said:
beanbag said:
ETA: Read my initial post again. This is about somebody driving in Spain with UK plates. Not Spanish ones. rolleyes
beanbag said:
His car has Spanish plates
rolleyes

And my 2p is that you should mind your own business instead of sticking your fat oar into other folks'.
OP's friend's car has Spanish plates, the other car has UK plates. The UK plated car is SORNed and due to Spanish laws cannot be insured.

So there is an uninsured driver using a car near the OP, why is it none of his business ?

All that jazz

7,632 posts

145 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
maffski said:
All that jazz said:
beanbag said:
ETA: Read my initial post again. This is about somebody driving in Spain with UK plates. Not Spanish ones. rolleyes
beanbag said:
His car has Spanish plates
rolleyes

And my 2p is that you should mind your own business instead of sticking your fat oar into other folks'.
I think it's badly written - his friend has a car on Spanish plates, it was hit by a non friend's car which is registered in the UK and SORN'd.

I'd say it's your friends business if he chooses to report the other driver or not. Would much actually get done about it?
I think the "friend of mine" is actually himself.

beanbag said:
A friend of mine had a bit of an incident with a UK plated car where I live in Spain. His car has Spanish plates a while there was no major damage (a bit of polish buffed out the ding), we found out the car is SORN'd in the UK and it hasn't even had an MOT since 2012.

He was apparently very cagey about the accident and was insistent on resolving it with cash although nothing was needed in the end and both went on their way. Short of the long is, there is no way he has any sort of insurance. (You can't insure a UK car in Spain without an MOT)

The question is, this guy is clearly a liability and I see him driving his car most mornings on my way to work so would you report him? If so to who? The local police or DVLA and leave them to take care of the mess? Otherwise would you just leave him to it? He's obviously got away with it for almost 2 years now.
He's got no concrete evidence that it's not insured.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
I idly wonder if the responses in the thread would have been different if the OP had been hit, in the UK, by a <say> Romanian-plated car that'd been in the UK for a few years and was untaxed/tested in it's home country.

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

240 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
Corpulent Tosser said:
All that jazz said:
beanbag said:
ETA: Read my initial post again. This is about somebody driving in Spain with UK plates. Not Spanish ones. rolleyes
beanbag said:
His car has Spanish plates
rolleyes

And my 2p is that you should mind your own business instead of sticking your fat oar into other folks'.
OP's friend's car has Spanish plates, the other car has UK plates. The UK plated car is SORNed and due to Spanish laws cannot be insured.

So there is an uninsured driver using a car near the OP, why is it none of his business ?
I thank you for reading my post.

For those who've got it wrong.

- My friend drives a car with Spanish plates in Spain where we live.
- A man driving a UK plated car in Spain had a minor collision with my friend.
- No major damage done but the man with the UK plated car was very cagey and very reluctant to give out details and insisted it was a cash repair.
- A quick check on the DVLA data shows his can has not had a valid MOT since November 2012 and is also SORN'd

Still with me?

Some facts now:

- You can insure a UK plated car in Spain.
- To do so it must not be SORN'd and it must have a valid UK MOT.

So, a little logic dictates since said man has neither of the above, it is impossible for him to have any valid form of insurance.

So as Corpulent Tosser mentioned, why shouldn't it be a concern to me that an uninsured driver is around and about in my area near schools, busy junctions, buses, taxi's, etc....if it were in the UK, people would be up in arms if I suddenly told you I was no longer driving my car with valid insurance.

So back to my original question, I think perhaps he should be reported but to whom? I don't know where he lives and all I know is I see him about 3-4 times a week along the same stretch of road on my commute to work.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
beanbag said:
So back to my original question, I think perhaps he should be reported but to whom?
Well if you're the one living there and you don't know, I think you might not get an answer here.

Is there not an ex pats website you can look on?

All that jazz

7,632 posts

145 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
beanbag said:
I thank you for reading my post.

For those who've got it wrong.

- My friend drives a car with Spanish plates in Spain where we live.
- A man driving a UK plated car in Spain had a minor collision with my friend.
- No major damage done but the man with the UK plated car was very cagey and very reluctant to give out details and insisted it was a cash repair.
- A quick check on the DVLA data shows his can has not had a valid MOT since November 2012 and is also SORN'd

Still with me?

Some facts now:

- You can insure a UK plated car in Spain.
- To do so it must not be SORN'd and it must have a valid UK MOT.

So, a little logic dictates since said man has neither of the above, it is impossible for him to have any valid form of insurance.

So as Corpulent Tosser mentioned, why shouldn't it be a concern to me that an uninsured driver is around and about in my area near schools, busy junctions, buses, taxi's, etc....if it were in the UK, people would be up in arms if I suddenly told you I was no longer driving my car with valid insurance.

So back to my original question, I think perhaps he should be reported but to whom? I don't know where he lives and all I know is I see him about 3-4 times a week along the same stretch of road on my commute to work.
You've clearly already made your mind up and you're just looking for people to be similarly Daily Mail style outraged like you are and agree with you so what is the point of this thread? rolleyes Do you not have more important things going on in your life to be dealing with?

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

240 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
All that jazz said:
You've clearly already made your mind up and you're just looking for people to be similarly Daily Mail style outraged like you are and agree with you so what is the point of this thread? rolleyes Do you not have more important things going on in your life to be dealing with?
Do you really enjoy demonstrating to the world how stupid you are?

dkatwa

570 posts

244 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
Grass them up...need to get all the uninsured scum off the roads

All that jazz

7,632 posts

145 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
beanbag said:
All that jazz said:
You've clearly already made your mind up and you're just looking for people to be similarly Daily Mail style outraged like you are and agree with you so what is the point of this thread? rolleyes Do you not have more important things going on in your life to be dealing with?
Do you really enjoy demonstrating to the world how stupid you are?
I'm not the one clutching at straws playing self-appointed police without any hard evidence of any offences being committed...

beanbag

Original Poster:

7,346 posts

240 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
gizlaroc said:
beanbag said:
So back to my original question, I think perhaps he should be reported but to whom?
Well if you're the one living there and you don't know, I think you might not get an answer here.

Is there not an ex pats website you can look on?
There are some Facebook expat sites knocking about. Guessing I can check there. I had a look at the DVLA anonymous reporting form but you can only report somebody in the UK as it doesn't offer a country. The only other option they offer is by mail which is a bit useless.

I've also never made a "denuncia" to the police in Spain before and there are three different types of police to choose from. Guardia Civil, National Police and Local Police, however from what I understand, there's no way to report somebody anonymously. You have to make a full "denuncia" (report), and spend hours in a police station doing that which quite frankly I can't be arsed to do. I was genuinely looking for some easy to do this.

All that jazz

7,632 posts

145 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
beanbag said:
gizlaroc said:
beanbag said:
So back to my original question, I think perhaps he should be reported but to whom?
Well if you're the one living there and you don't know, I think you might not get an answer here.

Is there not an ex pats website you can look on?
There are some Facebook expat sites knocking about. Guessing I can check there. I had a look at the DVLA anonymous reporting form but you can only report somebody in the UK as it doesn't offer a country. The only other option they offer is by mail which is a bit useless.

I've also never made a "denuncia" to the police in Spain before and there are three different types of police to choose from. Guardia Civil, National Police and Local Police, however from what I understand, there's no way to report somebody anonymously. You have to make a full "denuncia" (report), and spend hours in a police station doing that which quite frankly I can't be arsed to do. I was genuinely looking for some easy to do this.
But wait..

beanbag said:
So as Corpulent Tosser mentioned, why shouldn't it be a concern to me that an uninsured driver is around and about in my area near schools, busy junctions, buses, taxi's, etc....if it were in the UK, people would be up in arms if I suddenly told you I was no longer driving my car with valid insurance.
What about this dangerous uninsured driver being around and about in your area near schools, busy junctions, buses, taxi's etc? Surely they need to be removed from the road instantly so why can you suddenly "not be arsed" making a report to the police about it? The issue is either important to you or it isn't. Of course we know the real reason: it's because you don't want any comeback from it and you're st scared of having your name on the report. What a pathetic little coward. rolleyes

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
beanbag said:
I thank you for reading my post.

For those who've got it wrong.

- My friend drives a car with Spanish plates in Spain where we live.
- A man driving a UK plated car in Spain had a minor collision with my friend.
- No major damage done but the man with the UK plated car was very cagey and very reluctant to give out details and insisted it was a cash repair.
- A quick check on the DVLA data shows his can has not had a valid MOT since November 2012 and is also SORN'd

Still with me?

Some facts now:

- You can insure a UK plated car in Spain.
- To do so it must not be SORN'd and it must have a valid UK MOT.

So, a little logic dictates since said man has neither of the above, it is impossible for him to have any valid form of insurance.

So as Corpulent Tosser mentioned, why shouldn't it be a concern to me that an uninsured driver is around and about in my area near schools, busy junctions, buses, taxi's, etc....if it were in the UK, people would be up in arms if I suddenly told you I was no longer driving my car with valid insurance.

So back to my original question, I think perhaps he should be reported but to whom? I don't know where he lives and all I know is I see him about 3-4 times a week along the same stretch of road on my commute to work.
Makes much better sense, thanks for the explanation smile

I still wouldn't bother, whether in the UK or in Spain. There may be other reasons why the guy doesn't want to claim off his insurance, other than not being insured. With the greatest of respect, leave the Police to do the Police stuff, your responsibility is just to make sure your own house is in order.

SS2.

14,455 posts

237 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
beanbag said:
Some facts now:

- You can insure a UK plated car in Spain.
- To do so it must not be SORN'd and it must have a valid UK MOT.
Is that correct ?

Take Abbeygate, for instance:

FAQ said:
Spanish Law is little different to the road traffic laws in other countries throughout member states of the European Union – all vehicles using the roads must be insured for third party liability risks. All Abbeygate Motor policies fully comply with the Regulations of all EU territories.

EU Regulations stipulate that vehicles must be insured by an Insurer licensed to operate in their country of registration. Abbeygate has products that are able to insure both UK and Spanish registered vehicles owned by expatriates in Spain. The Underwriters are allowed under the EU "Freedom of Services" Directive to cross border service from the UK and Gibraltar and thus can legally insure UK registered cars driven in Spain. The underwriters are "established" in Spain through the Spanish Regulatory Authority – the DGS – and therefore can also insure Spanish registered vehicles owned by expatriates living in Spain.

At Abbeygate our Insurers do not insist on an MOT. It is now becoming common in Spain for UK vehicles to be tested at the local ITV (MOT equivalent) centre. But remember the ITV certificate will only be valid in Spain, so if you travel back to the UK and don’t have a valid MOT certificate it could lead to problems with the Police there. One of the policy conditions stipulates that your vehicle must be kept well maintained and in a roadworthy condition at all times. Any breach of this could invalidate cover.

amusingduck

9,396 posts

135 months

Wednesday 15th October 2014
quotequote all
beanbag said:
I've also never made a "denuncia" to the police in Spain before and there are three different types of police to choose from. Guardia Civil, National Police and Local Police, however from what I understand, there's no way to report somebody anonymously. You have to make a full "denuncia" (report), and spend hours in a police station doing that which quite frankly I can't be arsed to do. I was genuinely looking for some easy to do this.
Surely it'll be your friend making the report, no? laugh