un sorning vehicle

[DBSV8]

With DVLA being closed to all paper enquires, and the DVLA web portal referring to MOT / TAX exemption for 6 months

how does this apply to SORN vehicles ?

during lockdown I have just been renovating a classic, which is now over 40 years old and is therefore eligible once completion of paperwork for MOT/ Tax exemption, currently its still SORNED ive filled in form V112 to clarify the changes , however I cant send off documents and V5C to change from PLG to hIstoric status

The car is insured , where legally do I stand should I want to use the car on weekly food run as technically the car is still showing as SORN ?

Edited by DBSV8 on Thursday 16th April 19:12

Edited by DBSV8 on Thursday 16th April 19:13

[BertBert]

It is still sorned if you need to send paper to DVLA and they are not accepting it. So subject to the sorn rules.
Bert

[DBSV8]

BertBert said:

It is still sorned if you need to send paper to DVLA and they are not accepting it. So subject to the sorn rules.
Bert

its a catch 22 6 months grace on MOT and road tax ,

mine needs nether , its a grey area

[tedblog]

DBSV8 said:

its a catch 22 6 months grace on MOT and road tax ,

mine needs nether , its a grey area

Dont think there is a 6 month grace on road fund tax

[Tyre Smoke]

There is no grace on VED. Your vehicle must be taxed or SORN. There's no grey area.

OP, I would venture that what you propose is 'not essential' under Govt guidelines.

[Spitfire2]

While the Tax exemption needs a form filled in, you can do that at post office.

The MOT exemption is entirely based on age of the vehicle so I don't believe you have an issue there.

[BertBert]

Tyre Smoke said:

.
OP, I would venture that what you propose is 'not essential' under Govt guidelines.

Which bit has any relevance to which govt guidelines?
The OP wants to unsorn his car and wants to know if it's legal to drive if he can't.
Bert

[Tyre Smoke]

Yes, I know what he wants to do. My point was, DVLA would take the Civil Servant view of, that's not essential, why would you expect to be able to do that until this is all over?

[BertBert]

Tyre Smoke said:

Yes, I know what he wants to do. My point was, DVLA would take the Civil Servant view of, that's not essential, why would you expect to be able to do that until this is all over?

It's irrelevant what the OP expects to do or not do. If he can unsorn his car, great. If DVLA have decided that they are not providing that as a service at the moment, then he can't. There's no decision needed by him, you or me as to whether it falls under any definition of essential in regard to the Covid19 regs (is it is not covered).

Although if you have a reference to where the statutes or guidelines say that only essential stuff should be done which captures this (the act of un-sorning), then feel free to post away.

Bert

[Tyre Smoke]

I don't. I was broadly agreeing with you. DVLA apparently aren't providing this service at the moment, presumably because they have deemed it not essential.

[Prof Plum]

OP, how far through the process can you get when trying to unsorn it online using the V5C?
I unsorned mine online at the same time it became MOT exempt and just completed the V112 declaration on line at the same time.

Mine was already classed as historic so I appreciate that may be the part which is causing your difficulties... if so presumably the worst-case is that you could pay to tax it for a month if you need to?

[Prof Plum]

Spitfire2 said:

The MOT exemption is entirely based on age of the vehicle so I don't believe you have an issue there.

This isn't strictly true, the vehicle must also not have been 'substantially changed', hence the need to complete the V112 form to make that declaration.

[martinbiz]

Spitfire2 said:

The MOT exemption is entirely based on age of the vehicle so I don't believe you have an issue there.

Not really, it is entirely based on changing the status on the V5C to historic, that is what triggers the ability to tax the vehicle free of charge and without an mot. Just because it’s 40 years old it doesn’t automatically happen.
OP not sure there is a way out of this at the moment, just need to sit tight I think, to use it while sorn is a no no

[martinbiz]

Prof Plum said:

This isn't strictly true, the vehicle must also not have been 'substantially changed', hence the need to complete the V112 form to make that declaration.

This as well

[anonymous-user]

Tyre Smoke said:

There is no grace on VED. Your vehicle must be taxed or SORN. There's no grey area.

OP, I would venture that what you propose is 'not essential' under Govt guidelines.

You are mistaken. You may be forgiven because you may have looked at the incorrect guidelines given by the unhelpful Government, and these mis-state the law. There is no test of a journey being essential. The test is whether a person has a reasonable excuse for leaving the place where they live. Going shopping for food is expressly identified as a reasonable excuse. You can go shopping for food in a classic car if you want to.

[Tyre Smoke]

Breadvan72 said:

You are mistaken. You may be forgiven because you may have looked at the incorrect guidelines given by the unhelpful Government, and these mis-state the law. There is no test of a journey being essential. The test is whether a person has a reasonable excuse for leaving the place where they live. Going shopping for food is expressly identified as a reasonable excuse. You can go shopping for food in a classic car if you want to.

I wasn't disputing that dear chap. I was pontificating that DVLA would deem what the OP wants to do was 'non essential' and therefore there is no mechanism in place to carry it out until this is all over.

I mean, why would you possibly need to tax your (now) historic vehicle to go to Sainsbury's?

[BertBert]

Tyre Smoke said:

I don't. I was broadly agreeing with you. DVLA apparently aren't providing this service at the moment, presumably because they have deemed it not essential.

Whoops, apols.

[Pothole]

Tyre Smoke said:

I wasn't disputing that dear chap. I was pontificating that DVLA would deem what the OP wants to do was 'non essential' and therefore there is no mechanism in place to carry it out until this is all over.

I mean, why would you possibly need to tax your (now) historic vehicle to go to Sainsbury's?

[Plymo]

I've seen the tax van and the DVLA cars out and about, so they must judge those as "essential"

[anonymous-user]

There are no Government guidelines about DVLA's work. The fact that DVLA is not handling Sorns etc is probably a matter of staffing, as the staff who would usually do that work may have been sent home.