Car not SORN for 15+ years,,,,,

[smuudge]

My friend has a lovely old Jensen that has been off the road for 15+ years but not SORN. Can anyone see any issues with getting it back on the road in terms of the authorities (DVLA etc etc)?

[SHutchinson]

SORN wasn't required back then. As I understand it: insure it, MOT it, tax it, drive it.

[DaveL485]

SHutchinson said:

SORN wasn't required back then. As I understand it: insure it, MOT it, tax it, drive it.

Agree, although if it goes back off the road after being taxed it will need SORNing.

[crofty1984]

It's worthless. I'll take it off your hands. Won't even charge you for it.

[aka_kerrly]

I'd check with the DVLA by giving them a call asking about a hypothetical circumstance only because you really wouldn't want you friend to sorn the car now and some idiot at the DVLA to then try and issue a fine for the last 15 years.

[MX7]

I SORN'd a car online that had been off the road since before SORN existed. I got a message saying that the DVLA might contact me as there was a period that it hadn't been SORN'd, but I haven't heard back from them.

[AllNines]

aka_kerrly said:

I'd check with the DVLA by giving them a call asking about a hypothetical circumstance only because you really wouldn't want you friend to sorn the car now and some idiot at the DVLA to then try and issue a fine for the last 15 years.

Why would he want to SORN it? He wants to get it back on the road. As has been said, just go through the procedure of MOT and tax and then drive the thing! Nothing to worry about.

[Ean218]

DVLA said:

SORN isn’t needed if:

you no longer have the vehicle and DVLA has been informed
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

So it depends exactly how approx. the 15 years is.