Insuring a car with no tax or MOT?

[MitchT]

I'm toying with the idea of taking my car off the road as I don't really need it. If I SORN it and let the MOT lapse (current one expires on 13 June), will the insurance be invalidated? I want to keep it insured in case of theft, fire, etc.

This site implies that your insurance will be invalidated if there's no MOT (see 'MOTs and motor insurance'), though it says it in the context of you driving a car that's insured but has no MOT - mine will be kept in a locked garage and not driven. When the insurance comes up for renewal at the end of July will it be harder to arrange if there's no tax or MOT or don't they check for those things?

[Gafferjim]

Contact your insurance and tell them, ask them just for cover for theft etc whilst it's in the garage off the road, most insurance companies can arrange that.

[DuraAce]

Mot/tax not required for obtaining insurance. You're totally fine to gave something sorned/off road but still insured.

You need mot/tax to use it on the road (obviously!)

[AlexRS2782]

My Focus RS has been on SORN, unused & securely stored since late 2010 and the MOT expired early in 2011 and I've had no problems insuring it during that time on a SORN / laid up policy.

Find a decent specialist or a broker, give them the facts as they stand and they should be able to tailor the level of cover based on the vehicle, value, whether it's just fire & theft, accidental damage, etc.

If you do want to put it back on the road during the insurance period, it's just a case of calling the insurer to upgrade the cover to account for road use and pay the difference in premium to do so.

Edited by AlexRS2782 on Sunday 22 May 22:46

[Bigends]

Most will provide lay up Insurance covering fire and theft. May need garaging though. My son has lay up insurance on a motorbike, Must be garaged and two approved locks fitted

[Cliftonite]

MitchT said:

I'm toying with the idea of taking my car off the road as I don't really need it. If I SORN it and let the MOT lapse (current one expires on 13 June), will the insurance be invalidated? I want to keep it insured in case of theft, fire, etc.

This site implies that your insurance will be invalidated if there's no MOT (see 'MOTs and motor insurance'), though it says it in the context of you driving a car that's insured but has no MOT - mine will be kept in a locked garage and not driven. When the insurance comes up for renewal at the end of July will it be harder to arrange if there's no tasx or MOT or don't they check for those things?

There is some imaginative nonsense on that site!

[Slidingpillar]

Cliftonite said:

There is some imaginative nonsense on that site!

There certainly is, the old chestnut is waved again:
A lack of MOT invalidates your insurance

Perhaps they'd like a go in my MOT exempt car...

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Whilst no MOT will not invalidate insurance, if the car was stolen or caught fire, any total loss offer would be for the market value of your car without an MOT, so less than the same car with an MOT.

I know 2 people who have made total loss claims where the MOT had expired, and both had their payout reduced by 10%.

[Nimby]

Just curious - if a car is insured on a laid-up policy how does it appear on the MIB database?

[BertBert]

There are some policies with specific wording about (lack of) MoT, which we have discussed/debated/argued about before. They are phrased around driving the car without an MoT when it would otherwise need one.
Bert

[MitchT]

Thanks - some interesting comments there. I haven't full decided what I'm doing with it yet but, laid up or otherwise, it does need some attention to the bodywork which may take until after the insurance comes up for renewal. As there's no sense in MOTing it until it's ready to roll again the implications of renewing the insurance without an MOT are the main concern.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Nimby said:

Just curious - if a car is insured on a laid-up policy how does it appear on the MIB database?

Why would it need to?

[Bigends]

Nimby said:

Just curious - if a car is insured on a laid-up policy how does it appear on the MIB database?

No reason why it shouldn't - its insured, however - just checked my sons - its been laid up for a month and isnt on the MID!

[dacouch]

Bigends said:

Nimby said:

Just curious - if a car is insured on a laid-up policy how does it appear on the MIB database?

No reason why it shouldn't - its insured, however - just checked my sons - its been laid up for a month and isnt on the MID!

A laid up car on a true laid up policy does not appear on the MID as the MID shows vehicles that hold insurance for third party risks eg what's needed to drive a car legally on the road. A laid up policy does not include any element of third party cover so cannot appear on the MID

[mph1977]

Gafferjim said:

Contact your insurance and tell them, ask them just for cover for theft etc whilst it's in the garage off the road, most insurance companies can arrange that.

exactly this