Taxing a car then SORNing shortly after
Discussion
As is the custom, I'm currently bidding on a ropey banger on eBay. The long term plan is to use it for parts for the equally ropey one I've already got in the garage.
The slight complication is that it's currently SORN, in itself not an issue as it can be taxed online, but I'll be driving it home on day insurance. The plan is then to SORN it again on getting it home.
My thought is to set up a direct debit for the tax, which presumably will then take just the one payment after the tax is cancelled.
Will this work, or am I opening myself up to a world of pain?
The slight complication is that it's currently SORN, in itself not an issue as it can be taxed online, but I'll be driving it home on day insurance. The plan is then to SORN it again on getting it home.
My thought is to set up a direct debit for the tax, which presumably will then take just the one payment after the tax is cancelled.
Will this work, or am I opening myself up to a world of pain?
Pay for 6 months and cancel, you'll get 5 months back, personally I wouldn't trust them to not try and take the next month with a DD.
But the way the tax/sorn system is setup is a rip-off; need to tax from the start of the month but if you sorn it's effective immediately meaning in most car sale/purchase transactions they get the tax twice for the month in question, also seemingly geared up to catch people out and fine them (much like alot of motoring related stuff) .
But the way the tax/sorn system is setup is a rip-off; need to tax from the start of the month but if you sorn it's effective immediately meaning in most car sale/purchase transactions they get the tax twice for the month in question, also seemingly geared up to catch people out and fine them (much like alot of motoring related stuff) .
catso said:
Pay for 6 months and cancel, you'll get 5 months back, personally I wouldn't trust them to not try and take the next month with a DD.
But the way the tax/sorn system is setup is a rip-off; need to tax from the start of the month but if you sorn it's effective immediately meaning in most car sale/purchase transactions they get the tax twice for the month in question, also seemingly geared up to catch people out and fine them (much like alot of motoring related stuff) .
Hadn't thought of doing it that way. But the way the tax/sorn system is setup is a rip-off; need to tax from the start of the month but if you sorn it's effective immediately meaning in most car sale/purchase transactions they get the tax twice for the month in question, also seemingly geared up to catch people out and fine them (much like alot of motoring related stuff) .
And I agree on the second point, it's a pain since they changed to the new system.
HantsRat said:
Book it in for an MOT near the destination to cover the drive home without tax.
This did cross my mind, but I'm not sure if it would work. The car has valid MOT, so if I book it in then don't take it, surely it'll still ping ANPR cameras as SORN, and they'll chase me for it. phil y said:
This did cross my mind, but I'm not sure if it would work. The car has valid MOT, so if I book it in then don't take it, surely it'll still ping ANPR cameras as SORN, and they'll chase me for it.
You can still get an MOT on a car with a current MOT. Whatever works out cheaper will be the best option. - 1 months tax
- a cheap MOT
- Towing it
I think its a relatively small risk. I've done it a couple of times; once taking a SORN car 20 miles down the M11 to auction on day insurance. The other driving a new to me car the 60 miles home from the dealer without taxing it first (I had swapped my insurance over). Again most of it was motorway (M1, M25, M11) and I didn't get stopped either time. Both would have pinged ANPR for no insurance and no tax but I worked on the principle that having the former I could talk my way out of the latter 
I've never had any issues with them taking more than they should via Direct Debit. The last time I bought a car I did similar to you - taxed it online using the new keeper supplement - got it home and sorn'd it when the day insurance ran out 24 hours later. DVLA only took the initial monthly debit of £20.00 ish.
When I SORN'd the Landy last month (on the very last day of the Month) - again, they only took the amount owed for April - no extra payment for May as well. The new system seems to be fairly accurate to within 24 hours if done online at any rate.
When I SORN'd the Landy last month (on the very last day of the Month) - again, they only took the amount owed for April - no extra payment for May as well. The new system seems to be fairly accurate to within 24 hours if done online at any rate.
phil y said:
And I agree on the second point, it's a pain since they changed to the new system.
What changed that's causing a pain?It's currently SORNed, you say? So there wouldn't have been any tax changing hands anyway.
If it was currently taxed, you could drive it home quite happily, safe in the knowledge that the keeper change wouldn't reflect through so quickly anyway. So no real change affecting what you want to do.
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