Automatic fine for no road tax?

[PhilboSE]

One of my cars is due it's first MOT and has failed on a high lambda reading caused by a leak in the exhaust which is likely to be a manufacturing defect.

By the time the manufacturer can see the car, the road tax will have expired by a couple of days.
The car is insured and the failed MOT will presumably be logged with the central system.
I have access to other vehicles and so will not use the car when the tax has expired.

Question is, will I get fined automatically for failure to have unbroken road tax coverage, or do I need to declare the car SORN for the period before the exhaust is remedied, it passes the MOT and I re-tax the car?

[Dick Seaman]

I think you'll be ok. I've renewed tax a week or two late before with no recriminations.

[kambites]

I think you'll be fine as long as you buy tax from the date that the old one ran out - ie don't try to leave it a whole month and then skip a month of tax.

[The_Burg]

SORN online, takes seconds. Not worth the risk of a fine IMHO.

[PhilboSE]

The_Burg said:

SORN online, takes seconds. Not worth the risk of a fine IMHO.

Thanks, in the past I've renewed tax a few days late with no probs as indicated above, but I'm aware that in the current days of joined-up IT systems some fines are being issued more automatically.

If it's declared SORN, can I apply for the tax a few days later without having to go through an additional process to un-SORN it?

[kambites]

PhilboSE said:

If it's declared SORN, can I apply for the tax a few days later without having to go through an additional process to un-SORN it?

Yes. Applying for a tax disc automatically cancels SORN.

[PhilboSE]

kambites said:

Yes. Applying for a tax disc automatically cancels SORN.

Many thanks, I'll declare it SORN before the tax runs out, get it remedied and then re-tax. And pay the tax (OK road fund licence for the pedants) for the period when I wasn't able to use the car, the full road tax reach-around...

[E30M3SE]

You have 14 days to either SORN or renew your tax, it states this on the back of the V11 form you are sent.

[Hot Dog Harrigan]

PhilboSE said:

Many thanks, I'll declare it SORN before the tax runs out, get it remedied and then re-tax. And pay the tax (OK road fund licence for the pedants) for the period when I wasn't able to use the car, the full road tax reach-around...

Vehicle excise duty.