SORN - can I still drive the car?
Discussion
I’m replacing my car, most likely on Saturday, between now and then if planned two drives of the car - once to the tip and once to take my mum home post Christmas.
Day before Christmas even I was on my way to collect the turkey when the clutch pedal hit the floor and wouldn’t move. Called the RAC who called a local garage and recovered me there for a new slave cylinder and clutch. ETA Saturday.
So that evening I decided to SORN the car simply to give the gov agency maximum time to do what they need to do in order to get the month of Jan as a refund on my so-called road tax.
Christmas Eve the garage called and told me the car was ready, so I collected it and drove it straight home. We’re spending Christmas here so no need to use it.
However, given we have children to entertain, an even greater need to go to the tip this week, and a grandma to return home it would be useful to have use of the car for those two trips.
My question is, as the tax refund is from 1st Jan and therefore I have paid for the “road tax” until 31st December would it be out of order to use those two trips?
Or is the car classed as untaxed from the moment I complete the SORN?
Day before Christmas even I was on my way to collect the turkey when the clutch pedal hit the floor and wouldn’t move. Called the RAC who called a local garage and recovered me there for a new slave cylinder and clutch. ETA Saturday.
So that evening I decided to SORN the car simply to give the gov agency maximum time to do what they need to do in order to get the month of Jan as a refund on my so-called road tax.
Christmas Eve the garage called and told me the car was ready, so I collected it and drove it straight home. We’re spending Christmas here so no need to use it.
However, given we have children to entertain, an even greater need to go to the tip this week, and a grandma to return home it would be useful to have use of the car for those two trips.
My question is, as the tax refund is from 1st Jan and therefore I have paid for the “road tax” until 31st December would it be out of order to use those two trips?
Or is the car classed as untaxed from the moment I complete the SORN?
Tony1963 said:
“on my so-called road tax”
Only by people who don’t know what it’s really called.
I suspect most people still refer to it as “road tax” but I know that’s not what it’s correctly called. I used a term that’s in common usage and even acknowledged the fact it’s not the correct name, by using “so-called”Only by people who don’t know what it’s really called.
But thanks for pointing that out anyway Tony, Merry Christmas.
Hackney said:
I suspect most people still refer to it as “road tax” but I know that’s not what it’s correctly called. I used a term that’s in common usage and even acknowledged the fact it’s not the correct name, by using “so-called”
But thanks for pointing that out anyway Tony, Merry Christmas.
And a Merry Christmas to you too. But thanks for pointing that out anyway Tony, Merry Christmas.
If you’d called it ‘so called vehicle excise duty’ that would’ve been correct, but still wouldn’t work really.
So, good luck with whichever way you go with this.
Hackney said:
Tony1963 said:
“on my so-called road tax”
Only by people who don’t know what it’s really called.
I suspect most people still refer to it as “road tax” but I know that’s not what it’s correctly called. I used a term that’s in common usage and even acknowledged the fact it’s not the correct name, by using “so-called”Only by people who don’t know what it’s really called.
But thanks for pointing that out anyway Tony, Merry Christmas.
SORN is as the acronym say it is.
You've notified off road, thus it should not be driven. afaik it's from the moment you declare it.
You'll probably get a tug if clocked by the Police, and it'll be a prosecution of some description but to the best of my knowledge it's non endorseable.
Leave the tip run until next week, get yer mum a taxi. Or take the chance, if it were my mum and not far away I'd be tempted myself.
You've notified off road, thus it should not be driven. afaik it's from the moment you declare it.
You'll probably get a tug if clocked by the Police, and it'll be a prosecution of some description but to the best of my knowledge it's non endorseable.
Leave the tip run until next week, get yer mum a taxi. Or take the chance, if it were my mum and not far away I'd be tempted myself.
Edited by texaxile on Wednesday 25th December 19:08
From the government website.
"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.
You could face court prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 if you use it on the road for any other reason."
"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.
You could face court prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 if you use it on the road for any other reason."
Hairsy16 said:
Just a thought...
Could you un SORN it from now? Is this system clever enough to know that you've already paid for December?
Then re SORN before the end of December when you've finished using it?
I don't think the system is clever enough and you will have to pay the December duty again. Could you un SORN it from now? Is this system clever enough to know that you've already paid for December?
Then re SORN before the end of December when you've finished using it?
Super Sonic said:
From the government website.
"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.
You could face court prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 if you use it on the road for any other reason."
Thanks. Genuinely hadn’t checked the website. "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.
You could face court prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 if you use it on the road for any other reason."
Think the decision is made for me.
48k said:
Dear PH.
I'd like to do something that I know is wrong. Can you please validate me.
Yours, OP.
While I suspected it was wrong and don’t want to risk it unnecessarily (we can make do with the one car and slight inconvenience, particularly as I expected to be sans car until Saturday anyway) I did think there was a possible grey area between date of SORN 23/12 to the date I’d paid VED up to based on what refund I’d get, 31/12. I'd like to do something that I know is wrong. Can you please validate me.
Yours, OP.
Thanks for all the help and advice.
I think the only drive I’ll do is to the local garage to use the car wash. It’s a risk, I know.
What were you planning to do with your mum and your rubbish when you thought the car was going to be immobilised at the garage? Do that instead of risking a chunky fine.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff