To SORN or not to SORN

Author
Discussion

skoff

Original Poster:

1,387 posts

233 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
quotequote all
My daily drive (2001 Lexus GS300) failed its MOT on a couple of holes in the exhaust last week. It turns out that a replacement is quite expensive, and difficult to get hold of. Only to be expected on an old unpopular mid range car I suppose.

I've managed to bring the cost down to a reasonable £550, less than half the price for an OEM part, by having a stainless steel exhaust made. The only trouble is that I can't get it in until October 13th.

I have re-booked an MOT for the 14th, but as the tax has now run out, should I declare the car as SORN until then, or just leave it?

I have another car to use in the meantime, which makes things much easier and the Lexus is off the public road on my drive, but I just wondered if I should by rights be SORNing the car for the sake of 2 weeks?

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

156 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
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Yes, SORN it until you are in a position to tax it.

ging84

8,832 posts

145 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
quotequote all
you don't lose anything sorning an untaxed car so why not?
you can tax it again once you have mot

MrPicky

1,233 posts

266 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
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If it is only a couple of holes then a temporary repair ought to be enough to get it through the MOT, gun gum and coke tins. Not pretty but it doesn't have to look as though it will last until next year. Take the paperwork about the new SS exhaust with you in case the tester gets arsey.

mygoldfishbowl

3,691 posts

142 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
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I may be wrong but I thought you couldn't sorn then un-sorn within the same month. On the rare occasions I should have declared sorn but didn't I never received a reminder until two weeks had passed, not a fine but a reminder that I should either tax or sorn or I would get a fine. Things may have changed though with the new ved system.

Tunku

7,703 posts

227 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
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mygoldfishbowl said:
I may be wrong but I thought you couldn't sorn then un-sorn within the same month. On the rare occasions I should have declared sorn but didn't I never received a reminder until two weeks had passed, not a fine but a reminder that I should either tax or sorn or I would get a fine. Things may have changed though with the new ved system.
I've just been through what is possible with SORN.
I've been waiting for money I'm owed to turn so I could tax my car (times are hard)
Money didn't turn up, so I used the on-line system to SORN the car using the V11.
The next day, the money turned up (quelle surprise)
I went back online using the V5C to tax the car. Came up transaction pending.
I phoned DVLA explaining what a divot I'd been.
They said all transactions online are locked for 5 days. So I could wait for five days and do it again or visit my local Post Office and renew using the V5C with current MOT in hand with immediate effect.
I went to my local P.O. , did the tax renewal as suggested by DVLA.
No problems whatsoever and car SORNed for a day!

blue al

923 posts

158 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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Should I Sorn for a week ?
Tax runs out 1st September
I have "sold it as in taken a 1k deposit"

Transaction to be completed next weekend so currently I still own it
Mot runs out tomorrow as well

My buyer wants to drive it away to a test station next weekend

What's the best move from both our perspectives

When should I notify insurance, renewal date in October, so no cash back for me

herewego

8,814 posts

212 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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It doesn't matter to the buyer whether it's SORN or not. It will unSORN automatically on change of keeper. He can drive to MOT whether SORN or not.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
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blue al said:
Should I Sorn for a week ?
Tax runs out 1st September
I have "sold it as in taken a 1k deposit"

Transaction to be completed next weekend so currently I still own it
Mot runs out tomorrow as well

My buyer wants to drive it away to a test station next weekend

What's the best move from both our perspectives

When should I notify insurance, renewal date in October, so no cash back for me
You need to consider whether the sale will definitely complete, either next weekend, or at all.

SORN it online on 1st September - https://www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn -
If sale completes notify online that day after you have the money and before the buyer leaves with the car - https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle/y/no/sold-y...
Insurance ditto - ring your insurer and follow up with an e-mail: you don't need the hassle of the buyer having a prang and a claim being made on your policy.

It is up to the buyer to ensure he has insurance cover to drive the car once it belongs to him. Not your problem. As for what else he needs to do see below.

herewego said:
It doesn't matter to the buyer whether it's SORN or not. It will unSORN automatically on change of keeper. He can drive to MOT whether SORN or not.
yes

However it will only show up as unSORNed when Swansea update their computer record. Another reason to notify the sale online. Much quicker than snail mail.
As long as the buyer has booked a test for the day he collects the car he can quite legally drive it untaxed and with no current MOT.
So from his perspective, collecting on a Sunday might not be a good idea.