SORN & Classic Cars

[Springbok]

Morning,

My father has two classic cars, one a '69 car and one '72 car. Neither need a tax disc as they are both eligible for a free disc due to their age

The '72 once had a free tax disc - last issued in May 1996 - nothine since. The '69 car has never had one. They have both been off the road for in excess of 15 years.

Under these new rules does either of them need to be declared SORN?

I think not but I want to make sure.

Can't get hold of anyone at any DVLA office to ask them.

Thanks

[ewenm]

I think technically you need to SORN them or tax them (for free). Obviously to tax them you need to MOT and insure them too.

[S1_RS]

Both have been untaxed since before 31 January 1998 so don't need to be declared SORN.

When SORN isn't needed
SORN isn’t needed if:

•you no longer have the vehicle and DVLA has been informed
•your insurance company has written off the vehicle
•you take the vehicle abroad permanently
•you apply for a refund of vehicle tax and don’t keep the vehicle
•you are keeping the vehicle off the road and untaxed for less than 14 days
•your vehicle was last taxed before 31 January 1998

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

[ewenm]

Interesting stuff - so no action required unless either are to be run on the road.

[nigel bickle]

If DVLA have had no dealings with either car since May 965- you're safe. They won't be on current records- and would only return to use if you changed your details (address etc) or sold them. A new V5c (as opposed to the V5 you hold) would trigger SORN requirements.
If you need to check -go onto their Vehicle Enquiry site and put in your car details. If they do show up, its on the record & needs Sorning. Almost certainly they'll not be recgonised.

I'd stay under the radar, as long as you can.

[Springbok]

Really??!!

Neither has seen a road for years and years and are unlikely to do so for many yeers to come.

One has been in dry storage since 1996 and the other one axle stands at their home since the same date (Nov 96 - IIRC).

MOT, Tax and insure them - for what?

[ewenm]

See later replies - MOT, tax and insure them for driving them on the roads only. I do tend to work on the assumption that cars are for driving

[Springbok]

Thanks for all the replies.

I've learned over the years that what is logical and sensible goes out the window when a government department gets involved.

[Springbok]

Tried the Vehicle Enquiry link as suggested.

The '69 car showed up as needing tax at £215.

The '72 car (actually a '70 car as shown on DVLA) is showing as untaxed.

Now totally confused as to what is the righ thing to do!

Don't want to give a head-up to the DVLA abut equally don't want my parents to get fined for continuing to do something they have been doing for 15 years - i.e. not driving either car anywhere at all.

[spitfire-ian]

S1_RS said:

Both have been untaxed since before 31 January 1998 so don't need to be declared SORN.

When SORN isn't needed
SORN isn’t needed if:

•you no longer have the vehicle and DVLA has been informed
•your insurance company has written off the vehicle
•you take the vehicle abroad permanently
•you apply for a refund of vehicle tax and don’t keep the vehicle
•you are keeping the vehicle off the road and untaxed for less than 14 days
•your vehicle was last taxed before 31 January 1998

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

I think this post answers your question.

[Springbok]

Thinkm I have got to the bottom of this one at last.

Neither car used to be needed to be SORN'd due to the last time they were taxed (i.e. prior to 31 Jan 98) BUT with the introduction of Continuous Insurance regulations unless they now become SORN'd, they will be liable to pay insurance.

NICE!

[B'stard Child]

Springbok said:

Thinkm I have got to the bottom of this one at last.

Neither car used to be needed to be SORN'd due to the last time they were taxed (i.e. prior to 31 Jan 98) BUT with the introduction of Continuous Insurance regulations unless they now become SORN'd, they will be liable to pay insurance.

NICE!

WRONG

They aren't required to be SORN - so also they aren't required to be CI either

Same exception applies HTH

I have a 1972 car that hasn't seen the road since 1980

It's not SORN and untill I finish it even with CI situation is unchanged.

No SORN required and SORN exception is equally applicable to CI

Now your Insurance broker however will be happy to take premiums for insuring both

[B'stard Child]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

From the link

If you're the registered keeper of a vehicle, it must be insured at all times.

The exceptions are:

* if you have made a SORN for the vehicle

* if your vehicle has been kept off-road since before SORN came into force on 31 January 1998 – unless it was brought back into use

* if your vehicle is recorded as stolen, passed or sold to the motor trade or between registered keepers

* if your vehicle is recorded scrapped or permanently exported by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing (DVLA)

[B'stard Child]

nigel bickle said:

If DVLA have had no dealings with either car since May 965- you're safe. They won't be on current records- and would only return to use if you changed your details (address etc) or sold them. A new V5c (as opposed to the V5 you hold) would trigger SORN requirements.

Are you sure about that - Change of ownership doesn't trigger the need for SORN on a vehicle last taxed before the introduction of SORN

The requirement is only driven by the date last taxed

[Springbok]

Thanks, understand now.

Laid up before SORN came into being and not used since = no need to either SORN or insure.

Good news - less hassle for the parents.

[B'stard Child]

Springbok said:

Thanks, understand now.

Laid up before SORN came into being and not used since = no need to either SORN or insure.

Good news - less hassle for the parents.

My pleasure

You are going to do something with them one day aren't you?

(assuming father isn't)

Edited by B'stard Child on Monday 20th June 13:37

[JumboBeef]

Springbok said:

My father has two classic cars, one a '69 car and one '72 car. Neither need a tax disc as they are both eligible for a free disc due to their age

Just to say that they will both need to have tax discs on them if/when they are ever on the road again. However, the cost will be £nil.

[B'stard Child]

JumboBeef said:

Springbok said:

My father has two classic cars, one a '69 car and one '72 car. Neither need a tax disc as they are both eligible for a free disc due to their age

Just to say that they will both need to have tax discs on them if/when they are ever on the road again. However, the cost will be £nil.

Actually normal practice is you pay for the first disc as per normal (rate as per pre 2001 vehicles and engine size) - DVLA then send you a refund and a £0 VED disc

This is because it's not been on the historic class up till that point - hence why when you look up the taxation rate on direct gov enquiry it comes up as chargeable

[JumboBeef]

B'stard Child said:

JumboBeef said:

Springbok said:

My father has two classic cars, one a '69 car and one '72 car. Neither need a tax disc as they are both eligible for a free disc due to their age

Just to say that they will both need to have tax discs on them if/when they are ever on the road again. However, the cost will be £nil.

Actually normal practice is you pay for the first disc as per normal (rate as per pre 2001 vehicles and engine size) - DVLA then send you a refund and a £0 VED disc

This is because it's not been on the historic class up till that point - hence why when you look up the taxation rate on direct gov enquiry it comes up as chargeable

When I got an old Land Rover back on the road a few years ago (it was a 1958 and had been off the road since the 70's and was classed as PLG), I filled in various bits of DVLA paperwork (can't remember exactly what now) and got a £nil tax disc: I didn't have to pay anything.

[B'stard Child]

JumboBeef said:

B'stard Child said:

JumboBeef said:

Springbok said:

My father has two classic cars, one a '69 car and one '72 car. Neither need a tax disc as they are both eligible for a free disc due to their age

Just to say that they will both need to have tax discs on them if/when they are ever on the road again. However, the cost will be £nil.

Actually normal practice is you pay for the first disc as per normal (rate as per pre 2001 vehicles and engine size) - DVLA then send you a refund and a £0 VED disc

This is because it's not been on the historic class up till that point - hence why when you look up the taxation rate on direct gov enquiry it comes up as chargeable

When I got an old Land Rover back on the road a few years ago (it was a 1958 and had been off the road since the 70's and was classed as PLG), I filled in various bits of DVLA paperwork (can't remember exactly what now) and got a £nil tax disc: I didn't have to pay anything.

It's a fair bit of paperwork that way....

It's definately easier and quicker to pay up if you want the car on the road and get issued with refund and a new £0 disc