SORN MOT/Tax question

[NDA]

I have put one of my cars on SORN this winter - the combination of lockdown and generally limited winter use... it's the first time I've done it.

The MOT runs out in March next year, I intend re-taxing the car in (maybe) April and having it MOT'd at the same time. I obviously can't tax it without an MOT - the car is insured until June.

I assume I am OK to drive it to a pre-booked MOT, but am I OK to drive it without road tax? Can I drive it home after it has passed the MOT without road tax? I am assuming that the MOT certificate won't be online for a few hours, so it will be tricky to tax from my iPhone at the dealer.

Anything else I might consider?

Thanks for any help.

[StevenB]

You are ok to drive it to a pre booked MOT

[NDA]

StevenB said:

You are ok to drive it to a pre booked MOT

Yep.... it was also the road tax question.

[Superleg48]

You can drive your car to and from a pre-booked MOT whilst it is under a SORN.

https://www.gov.uk/sorn-statutory-off-road-notific...

Specifically about 2/3 of the way down the linked page:

When you can drive your vehicle
You can only drive a vehicle with a SORN on a public road to go to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment.

[NDA]

Yep, got all that.... but does that include not being taxed too?

[smokey mow]

NDA said:

Yep, got all that.... but does that include not being taxed too?

Yes.

See all the answers above.

Sorned means that it is untaxed.

[NDA]

smokey mow said:

Yes.

See all the answers above.

Sorned means that it is untaxed.

Ah yes.... I'd kind of missed the logic in that. D'uh!

[Superleg48]

NDA said:

Yep, got all that.... but does that include not being taxed too?

If you SORN your vehicle for a period of time, and it happens that your MOT runs out after your SORN expires, then you cannot drive anywhere since you are neither under a SORN or taxed.

So the solution to your problem is to get your MOT done before your SORN runs out, even if that is a little early (up to 4 weeks early will mean your new MOT will expire 12 months from when the current one expires anyway. I.e. MOT on 01st of January, with a current MOT expiring on 30th Jan, will mean your new MOT will expire on the 30th Jan the following year.

If you need to MOT earlier than 4 weeks before your current one expires, you will start a new 12 month cycle from when you have it done. If you have to do that so that you are still under SORN then just bite the bullet and do it.

In summary, you can drive on a public road with valid tax. You can drive on a public road under a SORN if travelling to and from a pre-booked MOT. You cannot drive on a public road under any other circumstances where tax is concerned.

[NGee]

Superleg48 said:

If you SORN your vehicle for a period of time, and it happens that your MOT runs out after your SORN expires, then you cannot drive anywhere since you are neither under a SORN or taxed.

So the solution to your problem is to get your MOT done before your SORN runs out, even if that is a little early (up to 4 weeks early will mean your new MOT will expire 12 months from when the current one expires anyway. I.e. MOT on 01st of January, with a current MOT expiring on 30th Jan, will mean your new MOT will expire on the 30th Jan the following year.

If you need to MOT earlier than 4 weeks before your current one expires, you will start a new 12 month cycle from when you have it done. If you have to do that so that you are still under SORN then just bite the bullet and do it.

In summary, you can drive on a public road with valid tax. You can drive on a public road under a SORN if travelling to and from a pre-booked MOT. You cannot drive on a public road under any other circumstances where tax is concerned.

What an absolute load of bks. SORN does not 'run out' until you cancel it - and you can't do that until it is MOTd (unless you scrap it)

[Superleg48]

NGee said:

What an absolute load of bks. SORN does not 'run out' until you cancel it - and you can't do that until it is MOTd (unless you scrap it)

Yes, this true, SORN does not run out! What a tt.

Anyway, the point is that you are perfectly fine taking it to an MOT and back while not taxed, but under SORN.

Thanks for pointing that small error out so eloquently.

[imagineifyeswill]

Been told recently by a policeman, road tax is a DVLA problem not a police problem there fed up of doing DVLAs dirty work for them.

[jonwm]

I picked up a car i bought off eBay a few weeks back, it had been sorn'd for 2 years, they had got it MOT'd the week prior to collection and when i picked it up the sorn was cancelled, I drove it 95 miles home and sorn'd it when i got back on my computer, I used 3 motorways and A roads, didn't get stopped or any letter as yet.

Also used Cuvva insurance for 3 hours which worked quite well.

Now I have got rid of my other one its all insured and taxed.

[Gman20]

imagineifyeswill said:

Been told recently by a policeman, road tax is a DVLA problem not a police problem there fed up of doing DVLAs dirty work for them.

unlike the insurance industry they DVLA doesn't give them kickbacks for prioritising untaxed cars

[4rephill]

jonwm said:

I picked up a car i bought off eBay a few weeks back, it had been sorn'd for 2 years, they had got it MOT'd the week prior to collection and when i picked it up the sorn was cancelled, I drove it 95 miles home and sorn'd it when i got back on my computer, I used 3 motorways and A roads, didn't get stopped or any letter as yet........

So you got lucky then.

You could have just as easily driven half a mile, been picked up by an ANPR police car, and been prosecuted for driving a vehicle without tax.

For a lot of journey's it's just pot-luck if you get caught or not.


It's the same with speeding:

One day you drive along a route above the speed limit and nothing happens.

Another day, you do the exact same thing, and you get caught speeding, either by a camera van, or a Police car - Pot luck!