Talk to me about SORN and de-SORNing?

[GrizzlyBear]

I have a 4 year old car, but as I have 2 cars and hardly using either, I am thinking I should save a few pound and put the 4 year old (car) in my Garage until I actually need to drive to work again (my employer has said WFH until further notice which is fine by me), the other car will be the necessary transport until then.

So do I have this right?
SORN (possibly this month):
So I notify the DVLA I want to SORN the car (it will stay in a locked garage on my land; not the public road), and I claim the refund of any remaining full months of VED.
Do I need to tell the insurers? (my policy ends in a few weeks) so can I just let it lapse? so effectively the car is uninsured in my garage? also what happens to my NCD?

De-SORN (i.e. back on the road as my transport hopefully in a few months)
Re-tax the car at the start of the month I wish to start driving
Get some insurance (do I need to tell them it was SORN?), my NCD will magically resurrected to get me a decent discount again on my new policy?

The MOT will still be valid (as it passed in October 2020).

Hence, I have tax, Insurance and MOT, so I am all good to go

Anything I am missing here?
On face value, I wish I had thought of this last March?
(I don't want to get rid of the car)

Edited by GrizzlyBear on Monday 1st February 22:54

[BertBert]

I think you've got it other than you don't need to tell your insurance company about the sorn. Also an insurance company will probably take an old NCD in the first two years after your policy finished so ok there.
Bert

[GrizzlyBear]

BertBert said:

I think you've got it other than you don't need to tell your insurance company about the sorn. Also an insurance company will probably take an old NCD in the first two years after your policy finished so ok there.
Bert

Thanks, so the NCD is valid for about 2 years when it isn't on a car, that's interesting, really wishing I had done this last year now? I was worried about this as I have about 10 years NCD, so don't want to lose all that.

Anything I need to be careful of legally? (I am more than happy to keep the car mechanically sound while it is in the garage).

[_Leg_]

I have quite a few cars. I SORN and Tax them as I need them. I pay them on direct debit so I'm generally paying for 3 cars tax in any given month but it could be any three cars depending on weather, what I'm doing etc. Been doing this for years.

No need to tell insurers. Just SORN and tax online as you need to and DVLA just adjust the direct debits. Occasionally they take direct debit for a car I just SORNed but they credit it back within a few days and always before they take the direct debit for the car I just taxed.

I started doing this when I lost two refund cheques for cars that I SORNed after taxing them for the year. Largely because I never go to the bank these days.

It's effectively like paying £x a month to drive and which car it's for just adjusts the amount.

Hope that helps.

[sixor8]

GrizzlyBear said:

Thanks, so the NCD is valid for about 2 years when it isn't on a car, that's interesting, really wishing I had done this last year now? I was worried about this as I have about 10 years NCD, so don't want to lose all that.

Anything I need to be careful of legally? (I am more than happy to keep the car mechanically sound while it is in the garage).

My insurance company informed me on the phone of the NCD being valid for 2 years before expiring. I was already aware of this (in fact Direct Line if you leave and go back to them will honour it for 3 years) but was interested that they are informing people of this. In the present circumstances many people are probably SORN their cars so the insurance companies are making sure people know. Customer service, who'd think it!

As long as a car has insurance, you can drive it to and from a MoT test centre and to get it repaired, still SORN. Some insurance companies are offering money back if you are covering much less mileage than you originally estimated when the policy started.

[Plymo]

You basically have it right, although you don't need to tell your insurers it is SORN.

You may also find out that when you want to un-sorn (or re tax?) it, you need insurance in place first.

Beware though, once it is SORN you don't legally need insurance, but do you want to run the risk of theft or damage to what is presumably a reasonably valuable car, without some sort of insurance?
It is possible to get sorn/"laid up" cover that covers that, but doesn't cover for the car actually being driven. I have no idea if this is actually cheaper than normal insurance - I suppose a lot will depend on your individual circumstances.

[Old Merc]

Plymo said:

You basically have it right, although you don't need to tell your insurers it is SORN.

You may also find out that when you want to un-sorn (or re tax?) it, you need insurance in place first.

Beware though, once it is SORN you don't legally need insurance, but do you want to run the risk of theft or damage to what is presumably a reasonably valuable car, without some sort of insurance?
It is possible to get sorn/"laid up" cover that covers that, but doesn't cover for the car actually being driven. I have no idea if this is actually cheaper than normal insurance - I suppose a lot will depend on your individual circumstances.

We SORNed my wife`s shopping Peugeot at the start of the first lockdown last year. We also changed the insurance to fire&theft, in the end it wasn't much cheaper. Best to keep it fully comp and save all the hassle, (or cancel the insurance and keep your fingers crossed).
I SORN my classic every winter but keep that fully comp all year.

[Jarcy]

It's a shame that you didn't SORN your car on Sunday, as then your refund would include the month of February.

It was my intention to SORN my 2 weekend cars before 31st December, but stupidly I forgot.
Hence I made sure they were both SORN'd by last Sunday. (One is the highest tax bracket).

I shall keep both cars fully insured.

It was a 5 minute job to SORN the cars, and just before I drive one again it'll be a 5 minute job to tax and unSORN at my convenience (hopefully at the start of a calendar month). 1st April would be great, hoping that we can play with our toys again once the sun also starts shining.

[the tribester]

Yes, shame you missed doing it on 31st of Jan, because now you won't get any refund for Feb.
It's a bit of a con that the SORN is immediate, on any day of the week, but you can only tax it from the start of a month, even if that was 29 days ago.

If you let your insurance lapse, think about what fire/theft/damage cover it will have whilst parked up.

And you'll need insurance in place when you re-tax it.

If it turns out it's still in the garage come October 2021, you'll need insurance cover to drive it for the new pre-arranged MOT, but you won't need to tax it.

edited to add; You'll get a cheque for you refund, which'll mean a trip into town to pay it in, unless you bank with Lloyds or others, that have a cheque deposit function with their phone app.

Edited by the tribester on Tuesday 2nd February 17:27

[sixor8]

To my surprise, following advice I read on here, I found out you can tax a car that is SORN on the last day of the month starting the NEXT day, i.e. 1st of the next month. I think it may be to aid those going on a long trip with an early start buying VED the day before they set off.

And you can of course buy it weeks early if you are renewing it.

Edited by sixor8 on Tuesday 2nd February 21:43

[rdjohn]

The biggest issue is taxing the cars for whole calendar months. A few days use at the end of June / beginning of July last year meant two months cost.

[GrizzlyBear]

sixor8 said:

GrizzlyBear said:

Thanks, so the NCD is valid for about 2 years when it isn't on a car, that's interesting, really wishing I had done this last year now? I was worried about this as I have about 10 years NCD, so don't want to lose all that.

Anything I need to be careful of legally? (I am more than happy to keep the car mechanically sound while it is in the garage).

My insurance company informed me on the phone of the NCD being valid for 2 years before expiring. I was already aware of this (in fact Direct Line if you leave and go back to them will honour it for 3 years) but was interested that they are informing people of this. In the present circumstances many people are probably SORN their cars so the insurance companies are making sure people know. Customer service, who'd think it!

As long as a car has insurance, you can drive it to and from a MoT test centre and to get it repaired, still SORN. Some insurance companies are offering money back if you are covering much less mileage than you originally estimated when the policy started.

OK, SORN seems like a good idea, I have a garage where I can store the car, so it is off the road.

I am allowed at least one stupid question a day. , so the NCD, I have about 10 years, but usually just go with the cheapest provider. So is the NCD stored by the insurers or does it rely on being passed from one insurer to another. So if I SORN for a few months; allowing my insurance to lapse. Do I run the risk of loosing my 10 years NCD; from the above do I need to go back to the current insurer? or do I just need to provide my current policy number when I want to use the car again? so the NCD can pick up where I left off.

I tend to just go cheapest (or there-about) for Insurance. So the chances are it will be a different insurer.

[B'stard Child]

GrizzlyBear said:

I am allowed at least one stupid question a day. , so the NCD, I have about 10 years, but usually just go with the cheapest provider. So is the NCD stored by the insurers or does it rely on being passed from one insurer to another. So if I SORN for a few months; allowing my insurance to lapse. Do I run the risk of loosing my 10 years NCD;

NCD normally is valid for up to 2 years but some companies have different rules

I had two policies running both with NCD (different amounts) - and decided to take one of the cars off the road for a while 3 years later I couldn't find a company that would accept the NCD from the policy I had over 3 years ago so I started again

[C350Akra]

Why would you cancel the insurance just because it is SORN for a few months? You still have the risk of fire and theft. Ask the provider to reduce the risk to TP, F & T whilst on SORN.

[98elise]

GrizzlyBear said:

BertBert said:

I think you've got it other than you don't need to tell your insurance company about the sorn. Also an insurance company will probably take an old NCD in the first two years after your policy finished so ok there.
Bert

Thanks, so the NCD is valid for about 2 years when it isn't on a car, that's interesting, really wishing I had done this last year now? I was worried about this as I have about 10 years NCD, so don't want to lose all that.

Anything I need to be careful of legally? (I am more than happy to keep the car mechanically sound while it is in the garage).

Most insurance companies will accept NCD after two years. IIRC direct line accept 3 (or did).

Once the car is SORN then you don't need anything else to be legal, however I would recommend getting a laid up insurance otherwise you have no protection for fire, theft etc.

[GrizzlyBear]

B'stard Child said:

GrizzlyBear said:

I am allowed at least one stupid question a day. , so the NCD, I have about 10 years, but usually just go with the cheapest provider. So is the NCD stored by the insurers or does it rely on being passed from one insurer to another. So if I SORN for a few months; allowing my insurance to lapse. Do I run the risk of loosing my 10 years NCD;

NCD normally is valid for up to 2 years but some companies have different rules

I had two policies running both with NCD (different amounts) - and decided to take one of the cars off the road for a while 3 years later I couldn't find a company that would accept the NCD from the policy I had over 3 years ago so I started again

I didn't realise you could build up two lots of NCD? is that correct?

[lufbramatt]

I’d keep it insured tbh in case the garage burns down or gets broken in to.

[B'stard Child]

GrizzlyBear said:

B'stard Child said:

GrizzlyBear said:

I am allowed at least one stupid question a day. , so the NCD, I have about 10 years, but usually just go with the cheapest provider. So is the NCD stored by the insurers or does it rely on being passed from one insurer to another. So if I SORN for a few months; allowing my insurance to lapse. Do I run the risk of loosing my 10 years NCD;

NCD normally is valid for up to 2 years but some companies have different rules

I had two policies running both with NCD (different amounts) - and decided to take one of the cars off the road for a while 3 years later I couldn't find a company that would accept the NCD from the policy I had over 3 years ago so I started again

I didn't realise you could build up two lots of NCD? is that correct?

Yes AFAIK - It's a NCD (no claims discount not a "No accidents discount")

I have 8 years NCD on my motorcycle policy, 20 years NCD on one of my car policies and 3 years NCD on the other car policy - I also have a car on a classic policy which doesn't accumulate NCD.

However I would state that if for instance have an accident on my motorcycle - lets say I send it down the road no other vehicle involved and claimed for the repair - I would have to declare that accident to all insurers (car policies) they may "increase" my policy premium based on that but the NCD would remain for the policies that I didn't claim against.

I hope that makes sense