Car Tax Query

[16plates]

I've contacted the DVLA but they are just useless.

It's car tax time again, I work abroad 6 months of the year (2x 3 month stints), previously i've just taxed the car for a year and not worried about it/let a family member use it from time to time but i'm getting a bit cheap and/or wise in my old age and want to SORN the car each time i'm away.

If i tax it tomorrow for the year, i will use it for 3 months, then SORN it for 3, then use it for 3, then SORN it for 3.

If i pay the £500 up front, what happens when i SORN the car? Refund or 'frozen' until its back on the road?
If i pay the £500 by DD, what happens when i SORN the car? Frozen DD Payments or ceased and has to be re-taxed?

Am i better to pay the 6 month(£275) then in 3 months time when i SORN the car, get a refund?

Apologies - never bothered SORNing a car until now.

[shake n bake]

Just tax it and forget it, seems like a load of aggro for a few hundred quid.

[mon the fish]

SORN or sell the car, and you get a cheque in the post for the remaining full months tax. What happens with the DD I'm not 100%, but as I imagine you pay each month up front, they just cancel it and that's that

[Butter Face]

Pay by monthly DD, SORN when not needed. You can do both online, easy peasy.

[TREMAiNE]

Butter Face said:

Pay by monthly DD, SORN when not needed. You can do both online, easy peasy.

+1... You'll only 'lose' about 30 quid over the year (the increased charge for choosing DD).

[16plates]

Suits me. DD it is.

From a little reading elsewhere online it seems by declaring the car SORN the DVLA will automatically stop taking payments. I rekon this is probably my best option. There will be some discrepancies with dates so i'm likely to have to pay a months tax for a weeks use but that's life eh.

Thanks guys.

[Leptons]

shake n bake said:

Just tax it and forget it, seems like a load of aggro for a few hundred quid.

Unreal.

[TooMany2cvs]

16plates said:

If i pay the £500 up front, what happens when i SORN the car? Refund or 'frozen' until its back on the road?
If i pay the £500 by DD, what happens when i SORN the car? Frozen DD Payments or ceased and has to be re-taxed?

SORNing cancels all tax arrangements, and generates any refund due.

16plates said:

Am i better to pay the 6 month(£275) then in 3 months time when i SORN the car, get a refund?

DD it. Same (5%) hike in the price, but you're not fronting up the money.