Worth SORNing the Cerbera?

[WhyTwo]

Based on the current situation, is it worth SORNing the Cerbera? Looks like it's unlikely to get used for at least a couple of months

[RUSSELLM]

Did mine this week.

I think I’ll be a ‘furloughed worker’ this time next week, so was looking where I could save a few quid.

SORN’d the TVR, knocked the mortgage overpayments payments on the head, and reduced the amount I pay into my savings account.

I’d feel a bit odd, rumbling into the Sainsbury’s car park for my ‘essential’ shopping, in that

[Vipers]

Talking about the Cerbera, can anyone throw any light on this. It came out in 1996, TVR had a show up in Aberdeen, and I took our son to see it, he was chuffed he sat in one B16 AJP, and it appeared in that weeks motoring magazine.

Just thinking about it, I checked on the DVLA web page, and although it is now SORN'd and the last MOT was dated 4 years ago it says it was registered in 1999 not 1996, no big deal but just wondering how this could be.

It was originally green, its now blue, had a smashing visit to the factory at Blackpool as well, well worth the trip down from Aberdeen.

[BIG DUNC]

Could that plate now be on a different car?

I was thinking the opposite regarding SORN. The weekly supermarket run would be more of a pleasure in a nice car. If it is the only time I am driving, it may as well be in the nice car.

[Byker28i]

Took mine out yesterday for an essential journey, off to get veg

[DCerebrate]

Had mine out at the weekend for its winter routine of fortnightly waking from ‘sleeping beauty’ status. Exhaust is certified virus free. And currently more reliable than my daily, 308GTI which has suffered from the faulty brake design, big style.

[glow worm]

I'd tax it … re taxing without a valid MOT when the rules are relaxed may not be so easy ...with the backlog of MOTs and MOT stations having uncalibrated emission equipment and therefore unable to test …. I reckon could be upto an 18 month backlog !!!

Edited by glow worm on Monday 30th March 18:56

[pmessling]

I was hoping to get mine back on the road in a few weeks once I finish the rear fuel hoses, currently sorn'd and in need of an MOT, so guess that plans out the window.

[BIG DUNC]

I don't think there should be an MOT issue, although it will be a nightmare trying to book a test in 6 months time.

I spoke to the man who runs the local MOT place the other day. They only do MOTs and are therefore closing because there wont be enough work for the next five months.

However, the garage in the village is still open and carrying out routine services etc. They also do MOTs and will carry out a test if someone wants one. He said there were no plans to take the MOT system off line, so no reason that a test couldn't be carried out. That was two days ago, so of course it could have changed now.

[RUSSELLM]

Even if there’s a complete lockdown, I presumed service centres (some of which can carry out M.O.T’s) will be classed as essential ?

I was thinking NHS staff, other essential workers etc, keeping their vehicles on the road.

[glow worm]

If a MOT garage closes down and their MOT emission equipment is not calibrated every 6 months( for Petrol) 12 months for deisil then they can not issue MOTs until it's calibrated. The companies that calibrate the equipment will be very busy .

[glow worm]

RUSSELLM said:

Even if there’s a complete lockdown, I presumed service centres (some of which can carry out M.O.T’s) will be classed as essential ?

I was thinking NHS staff, other essential workers etc, keeping their vehicles on the road.

They've relaxed MOT rules for all vehicles needing MOTs from the 1st April , it's when they reintroduce the need for an MOT that needs a little more thought

[BIG DUNC]

Gov website says that garages (whether or not they carry out MOTs) can remain open.

If your MOT runs out after 1st April, it is extended.

If runs out (or ran out) before end of March, then it needs to be renewed.

There is no mention of standards being relaxed after 1st April. Do you have any more info on this?

[glow worm]

BIG DUNC said:

Gov website says that garages (whether or not they carry out MOTs) can remain open.

If your MOT runs out after 1st April, it is extended.

If runs out (or ran out) before end of March, then it needs to be renewed.

There is no mention of standards being relaxed after 1st April. Do you have any more info on this?

My point is that at some point in the future it will be re-introduced... Hopefully about 6 months , then the st hits the fan
MOT stations have their normal load plus the extra load from relaxed MOTs from the previous 6 months and a large number of MOT stations calibration is out of date and they are unable to test.

Edited by glow worm on Monday 30th March 21:43

[V8fan]

Have people's heads been in the sand? All MoTs on car, motorcycles and light vans due to expire today (30th March) or afterwards FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS have been granted a 6 month extension. Announced the middle of last week.

As for SORN your car, why do you need advice? Only you can know if you intend to not use the car. Bear in mind, you can't change your mind the next day. If you declare a car SORN, it will be several days before you can then buy VED for it, DVLA databases take a while to catch up....

[glow worm]

V8fan said:

Have people's heads been in the sand? All MoTs on car, motorcycles and light vans due to expire today (30th March) or afterwards FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS have been granted a 6 month extension. Announced the middle of last week....

I think we all know that … Just read and digest all the posts
After the Corona Virus lock down rules are relaxed to Tax a vehicle after SORN'ed you will need a valid MOT certificate .. which might not be as easy to obtain for a few months as it was before because of the backlog … is my hypothesis .

Edited by glow worm on Monday 30th March 22:12

[BIG DUNC]

glow worm said:

My point is that at some point in the future it will be re-introduced... Hopefully about 6 months , then the st hits the fan
MOT stations have their normal load plus the extra load from relaxed MOTs from the previous 6 months and a large number of MOT stations calibration is out of date and they are unable to test.

Edited by glow worm on Monday 30th March 21:43

Sorry Glow Worm, I mis-read your post. I thought you were saying the test itself will be relaxed.

I agree totally that in six months time, it will be difficult to book an MOT test as demand will be high. That said, the expiry date is extended by six months so it is not a case of every car needing an MOT on the same date. Just a case, that for the next six months, there will be twice an many MOTs expiring as usual.

[Byker28i]

glow worm said:

V8fan said:

Have people's heads been in the sand? All MoTs on car, motorcycles and light vans due to expire today (30th March) or afterwards FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS have been granted a 6 month extension. Announced the middle of last week....

I think we all know that … Just read and digest all the posts
After the Corona Virus lock down rules are relaxed to Tax a vehicle after SORN'ed you will need a valid MOT certificate .. which might not be as easy to obtain for a few months as it was before because of the backlog … is my hypothesis .

Edited by glow worm on Monday 30th March 22:12

Do we know if DVLA have changed their online system to ignore the valid MOT requirement?

[glow worm]

BIG DUNC said:

Sorry Glow Worm, I mis-read your post. I thought you were saying the test itself will be relaxed.

I agree totally that in six months time, it will be difficult to book an MOT test as demand will be high. That said, the expiry date is extended by six months so it is not a case of every car needing an MOT on the same date. Just a case, that for the next six months, there will be twice an many MOTs expiring as usual.

The main issue will be how many MOT stations will be able to test . The equipment used by MOT testers needs calibration (as I stated earlier) , it needs a visit by the maintainers of the equipment . I know of one calibration company that has stopped calibration and most MOT stations are closed so can not be calibrated . There are only a few calibration companies and a lot of MOT stations , it will take a considerable amount of time to get them all working again and add to the demand on those stations that can test.
My Chim MOT was booked for 2nd April, runs out of the 9th the MOT history on ( https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/) still states due 9th April 2002 , does say it will only change a few days before the MOT is due . I taxed it at the beginning of this month whilst it had a valid MOT.

Maybe a SORN car will have it's MOT extended if it expires in the 6 month extension period not exactly clear , obviously if has already expired it will not be extended.

Edited by glow worm on Tuesday 31st March 10:44

[BIG DUNC]

Byker28i said:

Do we know if DVLA have changed their online system to ignore the valid MOT requirement?

You still require a valid MOT to tax a car or drive it (assuming that car needed and MOT before hand) and all cars are still required to be road worthy.
What has changed is it the MOT expires from today onwards, it is automatically extended by six months, so add six months to the original expiry date.

The problem comes if the original MOT ran out, as it has for one of my cars and I am waiting for a part to arrive. My village garage say they will continue to test as they plan to stay open for servicing & repair work.

The other problem, as Glowworm points out, is that in six months time there will be double the demand for testing and if the majority of the test stations are still shut or their calibration has lapsed, it could be difficult booking an appointment.