Personalised Plate SORN Mistake, Please Help
Discussion
Being inexperienced with personalised plates I think I have made a mistake. It was on an old car that, midway through 12months of car tax, blew its headgasket. I sent the tax disc back December 2012 for a refund and declared the car SORN. I suspect that was the first fatal mistake, since looking at some websites seems to suggest that once you have had a tax refund you can't transfer the registration number.
The second potentially fatal mistake is that I have had it SORN for just over 12 months. On the DVLA page about transfers it states two conditions that apply for a non-taxed car to be able to have its registration number transferred, but it is unclear whether both conditions have to apply or just one.
Also, on the V317 registration transfer form it says:
"The vehicle that currently has the vehicle registration number (as in section 2):
• If the vehicle is not taxed, you can still apply to transfer its vehicle registration number without renewing the tax, if you have made a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
• There must be no break between the date a tax disc runs out and the start of the SORN.
• The vehicle tax should have run out (not refunded) no more than 12 months before the date of this application." form V317 PDF
There are two ways of reading this:
- you're out of luck if you got a tax disc refund (even if it was less than 12 months on a SORN)
, or
- you consider the date the tax would have run out (not the date it was refunded).
If the latter, I am ok (would have run out min 2013 therefore less than 12 months ago).
The whole personalised plate system seems to be designed to catch people out. What should they care if you get a tax disc refund or keep it on a SORN for 10 years.
I want to transfer the registration number but think I can't. Does anyone have any experience of this or advice.
The second potentially fatal mistake is that I have had it SORN for just over 12 months. On the DVLA page about transfers it states two conditions that apply for a non-taxed car to be able to have its registration number transferred, but it is unclear whether both conditions have to apply or just one.
Also, on the V317 registration transfer form it says:
"The vehicle that currently has the vehicle registration number (as in section 2):
• If the vehicle is not taxed, you can still apply to transfer its vehicle registration number without renewing the tax, if you have made a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
• There must be no break between the date a tax disc runs out and the start of the SORN.
• The vehicle tax should have run out (not refunded) no more than 12 months before the date of this application." form V317 PDF
There are two ways of reading this:
- you're out of luck if you got a tax disc refund (even if it was less than 12 months on a SORN)
, or- you consider the date the tax would have run out (not the date it was refunded).
If the latter, I am ok (would have run out min 2013 therefore less than 12 months ago).
The whole personalised plate system seems to be designed to catch people out. What should they care if you get a tax disc refund or keep it on a SORN for 10 years.
I want to transfer the registration number but think I can't. Does anyone have any experience of this or advice.
roundNabout said:
The whole personalised plate system seems to be designed to catch people out. What should they care if you get a tax disc refund or keep it on a SORN for 10 years.
The system's designed to prevent people dragging some shed of an Austin 7 out of the barn it was left in when WW2 broke out and flogging the plate - since it'd be impossible to tell that the plate was really off THAT A7 and not one genuinely scrapped decades ago that's been spotted in a photo.If the plate's worth worrying about, then fix the HG, get it MOTd and taxed.
Thanks TooMany2cvs, I can understand your point about a very old car, but 12 months seems overly restrictive given the way the SORN system is set up these days.
TooMany2cvs said:
If the plate's worth worrying about, then fix the HG, get it MOTd and taxed.
Fixing and taxing would cost me a fair amount whether the plate is worth it or not. I suspect the plate isn't worth much, but even a few hundred quid smarts.AdvanceRoadcraft said:
Try an application to put the number on retention - they normally go through fairly automatically. Then (later) apply via the retention certificate to apply the Reg. to whatever you want.
Either DVLA will refuse the application or it will cost you £80 (from memory). Worth a try!
Thanks AdvanceRoadcraft. Retention is £105 and normal direct transfer is £80. If I understand this page correctly, following retention, it will be free for me to put on my own car or cost £25 to put it onto someone else's car. Is that right?Either DVLA will refuse the application or it will cost you £80 (from memory). Worth a try!
There's no chance of the DVLA saying no and keeping my £105 is there? Has anyone been rejected in a retention application and is able to let me know what happened?
Not too bad if it means the mistake costs either £25 or £50 depending on whether I keep it or sell it.
LoonR1 said:
5 posts in 38 months and the previous thread was another detailed tale of woe and how the world is out to get the OP.
Maybe the OP only posts when they genuinely need help or feel that they can offer help rather than simply frivolously posting on every thread possible? 
OP: The first problem I can see, based on your links, is the lack of an MOT.
If you want to transfer the registration number to another vehicle, https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati... states:
How to transfer a registration number
Complete a V317 ‘application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number’. If the number is being transferred to someone else’s vehicle, both registered keepers must complete the application.
You should also include:
*The £80 transfer fee (cheque or postal order, payable to DVLA)
*The registration certificate or the new keeper supplement with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C’ for each vehicle
*An MOT test certificate (for cars and motorcycles over 3 years old, and heavy goods vehicles over 1 year old) for each vehicle
Whilst the V317: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa... states:
You must include the following documents for the vehicle in section 2
* The Registration Certificate(V5C)or New keeper’s details(V5C/2)for the vehicle with an ‘Application for a vehicle registration certificate’(V62).
Note:If any details on the V5C have changed, please fill in the changes section on the V5C.
* An MoT or Goods Vehicle Test (GVT) certificate (if appropriate).
* The appropriate fee for the transfer or retention.
If you need to tax your vehicle you also need to include:
* An ‘Application for a tax disc’(V10) or an ‘Application to tax a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV)’(V85).
* A certificate of insurance or cover note.
* The appropriate fee for the tax disc.
If you want to retain the registration number on a retention certificate then https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati... states:
Applying to retain your registration
Send the following to DVLA Swansea, SA99 1DS:
* A completed V317 ‘application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number’ form
*The registration certificate for the vehicle or the new keeper’s supplement with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C’
*An MOT test certificate for the vehicle (needed for cars and motorcycles over 3 years old, and heavy goods vehicles over 1 year old
*The fee, payable by cheque or postal order to DVLA (do not send cash)
Based on that, as I read it, whatever you intend to do, the car with the registration number currently has to have an MOT.
4rephill said:
OP: The first problem I can see, based on your links, is the lack of an MOT.
If you want to transfer the registration number to another vehicle, https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati... states:
How to transfer a registration number
Complete a V317 ‘application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number’. If the number is being transferred to someone else’s vehicle, both registered keepers must complete the application.
You should also include:
*The £80 transfer fee (cheque or postal order, payable to DVLA)
*The registration certificate or the new keeper supplement with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C’ for each vehicle
*An MOT test certificate (for cars and motorcycles over 3 years old, and heavy goods vehicles over 1 year old) for each vehicle
Whilst the V317: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa... states:
You must include the following documents for the vehicle in section 2
* The Registration Certificate(V5C)or New keeper’s details(V5C/2)for the vehicle with an ‘Application for a vehicle registration certificate’(V62).
Note:If any details on the V5C have changed, please fill in the changes section on the V5C.
* An MoT or Goods Vehicle Test (GVT) certificate (if appropriate).
* The appropriate fee for the transfer or retention.
If you need to tax your vehicle you also need to include:
* An ‘Application for a tax disc’(V10) or an ‘Application to tax a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV)’(V85).
* A certificate of insurance or cover note.
* The appropriate fee for the tax disc.
If you want to retain the registration number on a retention certificate then https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati... states:
Applying to retain your registration
Send the following to DVLA Swansea, SA99 1DS:
* A completed V317 ‘application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number’ form
*The registration certificate for the vehicle or the new keeper’s supplement with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C’
*An MOT test certificate for the vehicle (needed for cars and motorcycles over 3 years old, and heavy goods vehicles over 1 year old
*The fee, payable by cheque or postal order to DVLA (do not send cash)
Based on that, as I read it, whatever you intend to do, the car with the registration number currently has to have an MOT.
Not strictly true - I have transferred registrations off cars without an MOT that have been on SORN - the reason the MOT is mentioned is if the car releasing the numberplate has a MOT with time to run it gets a new cert with whatever reg is returned to it.If you want to transfer the registration number to another vehicle, https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati... states:
How to transfer a registration number
Complete a V317 ‘application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number’. If the number is being transferred to someone else’s vehicle, both registered keepers must complete the application.
You should also include:
*The £80 transfer fee (cheque or postal order, payable to DVLA)
*The registration certificate or the new keeper supplement with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C’ for each vehicle
*An MOT test certificate (for cars and motorcycles over 3 years old, and heavy goods vehicles over 1 year old) for each vehicle
Whilst the V317: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa... states:
You must include the following documents for the vehicle in section 2
* The Registration Certificate(V5C)or New keeper’s details(V5C/2)for the vehicle with an ‘Application for a vehicle registration certificate’(V62).
Note:If any details on the V5C have changed, please fill in the changes section on the V5C.
* An MoT or Goods Vehicle Test (GVT) certificate (if appropriate).
* The appropriate fee for the transfer or retention.
If you need to tax your vehicle you also need to include:
* An ‘Application for a tax disc’(V10) or an ‘Application to tax a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV)’(V85).
* A certificate of insurance or cover note.
* The appropriate fee for the tax disc.
If you want to retain the registration number on a retention certificate then https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati... states:
Applying to retain your registration
Send the following to DVLA Swansea, SA99 1DS:
* A completed V317 ‘application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number’ form
*The registration certificate for the vehicle or the new keeper’s supplement with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C’
*An MOT test certificate for the vehicle (needed for cars and motorcycles over 3 years old, and heavy goods vehicles over 1 year old
*The fee, payable by cheque or postal order to DVLA (do not send cash)
Based on that, as I read it, whatever you intend to do, the car with the registration number currently has to have an MOT.
From https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati...
To retain the registration number, the vehicle must be:
registered with DVLA
available for inspection
of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate
Pre-1960 vehicles need a valid MOT to retain a registration number.
The vehicle should also be taxed, unless:
there’s no break between the date the tax disc runs out and the start of the SORN
the tax disc has run out in the last 12 months
I think the OP's issue is time lapsed still trying to work out the total time
So tax was cashed in and sorn applied for same time - that means no break from date when tax disc runs out and start of SORN so that's good
So was it 12 mths ago that it was put onto SORN?
I'd definately apply to put plate on retention and see it it goes thro
Edited by B'stard Child on Sunday 12th January 17:25
andyiley said:
solo2 said:
So long as the car has a valid MOT it can be on SORN.
Car does NOT have to have an MOT to be SORNd.I have a Senator on blocks that I have had on SORN for the last 5 years.
To transfer or retain a number plate the donor car needs to have a valid MOT but can be on SORN.
I did not mean to have a car on SORN you need a valid mot as that would be ridiculous.
solo2 said:
andyiley said:
solo2 said:
So long as the car has a valid MOT it can be on SORN.
Car does NOT have to have an MOT to be SORNd.I have a Senator on blocks that I have had on SORN for the last 5 years.
To transfer or retain a number plate the donor car needs to have a valid MOT but can be on SORN.
I did not mean to have a car on SORN you need a valid mot as that would be ridiculous.
All the conditions to transfer a plate are laid out about - you can transfer a plate with and expired MOT
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