Taxing a SORN vehicle that has had a plate change
Discussion
I recently bought a new (to me) car and had it delivered to me. I immediately SORN'd it online as I have use of another car.
The person I bought it off did the vehicle transfer online so I received a V5C only a few days later (great service over Christmas!). When the V5C arrived I transferred my private plate onto the car, again online, using the retention document. Surprisingly this process completed immediately - the DVLA informed me via email that I should start using the new plate, and that a new V5C would be sent out.
The problem I've now got is that I need to drive the car on the 2nd Jan. I've managed to insure it, but I don't seem to be able to tax it. I've tried using the original V5C document reference number with both original and private plate and neither work, telling me the vehicle details could not be found.
So, any ideas what I do?
The person I bought it off did the vehicle transfer online so I received a V5C only a few days later (great service over Christmas!). When the V5C arrived I transferred my private plate onto the car, again online, using the retention document. Surprisingly this process completed immediately - the DVLA informed me via email that I should start using the new plate, and that a new V5C would be sent out.
The problem I've now got is that I need to drive the car on the 2nd Jan. I've managed to insure it, but I don't seem to be able to tax it. I've tried using the original V5C document reference number with both original and private plate and neither work, telling me the vehicle details could not be found.
So, any ideas what I do?
I'm sure everyone will be relieved to know that the replacement logbook turned up today (again, very fast) so crisis averted!
DVLA weren't much help on the phone, the lady I spoke to told me it was impossible to put a private plate on a SORN vehicle. Whether that is the policy or not it didn't stop their online system letting me do it. They did give me the option to buy 6/12 months tax on the phone though, but no Direct Debit option.
DVLA weren't much help on the phone, the lady I spoke to told me it was impossible to put a private plate on a SORN vehicle. Whether that is the policy or not it didn't stop their online system letting me do it. They did give me the option to buy 6/12 months tax on the phone though, but no Direct Debit option.
Durzel said:
DVLA weren't much help on the phone, the lady I spoke to told me it was impossible to put a private plate on a SORN vehicle.
Utter bollux. There is nothing special about a private plate per se in that respect (any legitimate reason will be something else).See - https://www.gov.uk/put-registration-number-vehicle and confirmed by
V317 Guidance notes Section C said:
• If the vehicle is not taxed you can still apply without renewing the tax if you have made a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
There must be no break between the date the tax run out and the start of the SORN.
• We will not accept an application for a vehicle that has been declared off road (SORN) for more than 5 years.
• The vehicle must be a testable type, subject to MOT/GVT (road worthiness test).
There are 3 scenarios which could scupper it though. The vehicle you want to assign it to.There must be no break between the date the tax run out and the start of the SORN.
• We will not accept an application for a vehicle that has been declared off road (SORN) for more than 5 years.
• The vehicle must be a testable type, subject to MOT/GVT (road worthiness test).
• For some reason the DVLA has assigned it a non transferable VRM (the V5C will be stamped accordingly)
• Is on a Q plate (like a puppy, a Q plate is for life not just Christmas)
• It an electric milk float (because these are not a testable type)
Durzel said:
Whether that is the policy or not it didn't stop their online system letting me do it.
Nothing to do with policy. Unfortunately the lady you spoke to was one of the DVLA's army of poorly trained staff.Durzel said:
They did give me the option to buy 6/12 months tax on the phone though, but no Direct Debit option.
DD has never been possible by phone. You have to go to a Post Office for that.But without the new V5C you're still stuffed - https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax
Durzel said:
I recently bought a new (to me) car and had it delivered to me. I immediately SORN'd it online as I have use of another car.
The person I bought it off did the vehicle transfer online so I received a V5C only a few days later (great service over Christmas!). When the V5C arrived I transferred my private plate onto the car, again online, using the retention document. Surprisingly this process completed immediately - the DVLA informed me via email that I should start using the new plate, and that a new V5C would be sent out.
The problem I've now got is that I need to drive the car on the 2nd Jan. I've managed to insure it, but I don't seem to be able to tax it. I've tried using the original V5C document reference number with both original and private plate and neither work, telling me the vehicle details could not be found.
So, any ideas what I do?
I wish I’d found this thread on whatever search I was using before as I’m in approximately the same situation! That and not being familiar with or not thinking the taxing a car process through (i.e. you need the V5C document number) meant I didn’t get out today as planned.The person I bought it off did the vehicle transfer online so I received a V5C only a few days later (great service over Christmas!). When the V5C arrived I transferred my private plate onto the car, again online, using the retention document. Surprisingly this process completed immediately - the DVLA informed me via email that I should start using the new plate, and that a new V5C would be sent out.
The problem I've now got is that I need to drive the car on the 2nd Jan. I've managed to insure it, but I don't seem to be able to tax it. I've tried using the original V5C document reference number with both original and private plate and neither work, telling me the vehicle details could not be found.
So, any ideas what I do?
I have a SORNed car, and a new registration plate for it, I thought it’d be easier to change the number, then tax it so the direct debit details used the new number as reference…. Except of course when I changed the registration number, the old V5C is invalid and I don’t have the new V5C number. It’s a Sunday so didn’t even bother phoning DVLA even if they’d give me the new V5C number over the phone (as suggested above).
Ho hum, lesson learnt and an afternoon out in the daily!
rfisher said:
Take all relevant documents to a post office and they will process the tax online.
Not sure if you can set up a dd that way, but you can certainly tax the car for 6 months or a year without the replacement V5 number.
Thanks, there’s no rush as the car won’t be going anywhere until next weekend so I can wait for the V5C to come through - and pay by DD as feels less painful, otherwise it’s £350 for six months or £630 for the year….Not sure if you can set up a dd that way, but you can certainly tax the car for 6 months or a year without the replacement V5 number.
Dashnine said:
I have a SORNed car, and a new registration plate for it, I thought it’d be easier to change the number, then tax it so the direct debit details used the new number as reference…. Except of course when I changed the registration number, the old V5C is invalid and I don’t have the new V5C number. It’s a Sunday so didn’t even bother phoning DVLA even if they’d give me the new V5C number over the phone (as suggested above).
Ho hum, lesson learnt and an afternoon out in the daily!
DVLA sort out the tax when you change the registration number, no need to do anything yourself. Next time, tax it first, then do the number plate change.Ho hum, lesson learnt and an afternoon out in the daily!
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