Forgot to SORN! Likely outcome?

[Rickyy]

My MX5 went off the road on January 30th last year, tax expired on the 31st.

I went to the Post Office with the tax reminder in March to SORN it, but was told it was out of date. They did tell me how I could do it, but I forgot and didn't ever declare it SORN.

I MOT'd it today and taxed it online (nice easy process). I had a little side note saying I may be pursued by the DVLA for the amount of time it was untaxed.

Guessing I'm going to get a fine? Anyone know how much it will be?

[Matt UK]

I think the worst is to try and get for feb.

[alex290568]

I read that the car has not been taxed for 13 months, not just one month?

[Rickyy]

alex290568 said:

I read that the car has not been taxed for 13 months, not just one month?

Correct and to be clear, the car wasn't anywhere near a public road for that period.

[gubbabump]

I'm surprised they didn't contact you in the last 13 months and bring it up?? especially as I thought it would flag up on their database?

[GTIAlex]

I did exactly the same thing.

Bought a car with no MOT around 8 months ago, worked on it, got it on the road and went to tax it and it said that I hadn't declared it SORN during my ownership and that they would be investigating it.

However it was SORN when I bought it, and I checked on the DVLA website to confirm it.

Not heard anything yet.

[Cliftonite]

GTIAlex said:

I did exactly the same thing.

Bought a car with no MOT around 8 months ago, worked on it, got it on the road and went to tax it and it said that I hadn't declared it SORN during my ownership and that they would be investigating it.

However it was SORN when I bought it, and I checked on the DVLA website to confirm it.

Not heard anything yet.

You needed to have SORN (or taxed) it as soon as you bought it, regardless of whether or not it was SORN immediately before you bought it.

[Remagel2507]

I forgot to send a SORN off when I sent the logbook off for my Merc at the end of the last year. Received a £40 penalty (would have been £80 after a certain date) and an additional £20 for the period that the car was untaxed. Hopefully won't be making that silly mistake again

[Dr G]

Rickyy said:

...but I forgot and didn't ever declare it SORN...

No, you did not.

You wrote to the DVLA in the normal manner, stamped the envelope and put it in the post box.

Your obligations at this point are fulfilled. The DVLA will try and squirm but have lost on this argument in court.

[Rickyy]

Dr G said:

Rickyy said:

...but I forgot and didn't ever declare it SORN...

No, you did not.

You wrote to the DVLA in the normal manner, stamped the envelope and put it in the post box.

Your obligations at this point are fulfilled. The DVLA will try and squirm but have lost on this argument in court.

That's exactly what I meant.......

[SuperPav]

Unless it was picked up by a camera during the untaxed period, expect nothing. If letter does arrive, respond by saying "I sent the SORN form away on time, can you advise why it wasn't processed" or something to that effect, as above!


I once ended up finding out that the dealer I bought a car from sent the car tax in for a refund when the DVLA got in touch.... the tax on the car was £0 p.a.!!!

[GTIAlex]

Cliftonite said:

GTIAlex said:

I did exactly the same thing.

Bought a car with no MOT around 8 months ago, worked on it, got it on the road and went to tax it and it said that I hadn't declared it SORN during my ownership and that they would be investigating it.

However it was SORN when I bought it, and I checked on the DVLA website to confirm it.

Not heard anything yet.

You needed to have SORN (or taxed) it as soon as you bought it, regardless of whether or not it was SORN immediately before you bought it.

well yeah I know that now...

[vanordinaire]

I bought a car on last Sunday for use this summer, got the tear off strip from the v5. Called DVLA yesterday to ask how to SORN it without the full v5. The guy said 'oh you can't till it's been registered in your name, you just have to wait till we send you the new v5, it'll be very unlikely that we pursue you over this before you get the new v5'
I wasn't inspired with confidence.

[SuperPav]

vanordinaire said:

I bought a car on last Sunday for use this summer, got the tear off strip from the v5. Called DVLA yesterday to ask how to SORN it without the full v5. The guy said 'oh you can't till it's been registered in your name, you just have to wait till we send you the new v5, it'll be very unlikely that we pursue you over this before you get the new v5'
I wasn't inspired with confidence.

That's not true. You can't SORN your car online until you get your V5C, and I'd be 99.999% certain that they indeed won't pursue you if you don't use the car on the road until you get the V5, but you CAN SORN it now.

Use this form to complete a SORN for your car - there's an option on it to tick a box that the V5 has been sent off to register the car in your name (or something to that effect).

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

Never done it myself, but the process does exist!

HTH

[Saintirsinner2012]

Hi Rickyy,

I am in a similar situation. What was the outcome? Was there a fine that came out when you re-taxed?

Thanks

[Rickyy]

Saintirsinner2012 said:

Hi Rickyy,

I am in a similar situation. What was the outcome? Was there a fine that came out when you re-taxed?

Thanks

Car has been taxed ever since and not heard a thing from the DVLA about it! Hope it goes the same way for you!

[K50 DEL]

I'm about to be in the same boat... I've just been given a car in lieu of a debt, said car has been off the road since July 2015 and I discovered last night that it's not been on SORN (or indeed MOTd or Insured) during that time.

I'm now in the process of sorting those things, awaiting to see what the DVLA make of it all.

[Rickyy]

K50 DEL said:

I'm about to be in the same boat... I've just been given a car in lieu of a debt, said car has been off the road since July 2015 and I discovered last night that it's not been on SORN (or indeed MOTd or Insured) during that time.

I'm now in the process of sorting those things, awaiting to see what the DVLA make of it all.

You should be ok, as you're only liable from they day you signed the V5 surely?

[K50 DEL]

Rickyy said:

K50 DEL said:

I'm about to be in the same boat... I've just been given a car in lieu of a debt, said car has been off the road since July 2015 and I discovered last night that it's not been on SORN (or indeed MOTd or Insured) during that time.

I'm now in the process of sorting those things, awaiting to see what the DVLA make of it all.

You should be ok, as you're only liable from they day you signed the V5 surely?

I will be, but it's a friend who'll be lumbered with whatever comes from the DVLA so I'm concerned.

[Evolved]

Vaseline required.